“Could Angela Prichard Have Been Saved?”: 48 Hours Reports March 15 2025

This Saturday, March 15, 2025, 48 Hours will air a special investigation into the murder of Angela Prichard, a woman whose repeated pleas for help went unanswered, leading to a horrifying end. Correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti will explore Angela’s desperate struggle to escape her abusive husband, Christopher Prichard, and the failures that allowed him to kill her. The episode, titled Could Angela Prichard Have Been Saved?, raises critical questions about law enforcement’s role in preventing domestic violence and the legal loopholes that often leave victims unprotected.

Through exclusive interviews with Angela’s family members, law enforcement officials, and legal experts, the episode will provide a comprehensive look at the events leading up to Angela’s death. It will also examine the ongoing legal battles, including Christopher Prichard’s appeal and the lawsuit filed by Angela’s sons against the Bellevue Police Department.

Angela Prichard’s Struggle for Safety

Angela Prichard’s life took a dark turn as she tried to escape the abuse of her estranged husband, Christopher Prichard. After enduring years of harassment and threats, Angela took legal steps to protect herself, including obtaining a no-contact order against Christopher. However, despite the legal barriers in place, Christopher continued to stalk, threaten, and harass her.

Angela called the Bellevue Police Department at least 13 times to report violations of the restraining order. She described incidents where Christopher followed her, watched her home, and left threatening messages. She discovered a tracking device on her Jeep and hidden cameras in her house. Yet, despite these clear signs of escalating danger, law enforcement took no decisive action to protect her. In one alarming instance, when Angela reported that Christopher had been driving past her home multiple times in violation of the restraining order, police dismissed her concerns, stating, “It’s a small town, you will have that.”

The Nightmarish Final Days

Angela’s fear intensified as Christopher’s actions became more aggressive. On September 1, 2022, a temporary restraining order was issued, but Christopher repeatedly violated it. Despite Angela’s continued reports, Christopher was arrested only once in mid-September and was released after just one night in jail. He continued to harass her and even put up public signs attacking her character.

Christopher failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing on September 29, 2022, and was sentenced to six days in jail. Instead of being immediately taken into custody, he was given 24 hours to turn himself in. He never did. The police, who knew his whereabouts, failed to enforce the warrant for his arrest.

On October 8, 2022, the situation reached its tragic climax. Christopher arrived at Angela’s workplace, Mississippi Ridge Kennels, carrying a shotgun. Within minutes, he had shot Angela in the chest, killing her. When police arrested Christopher the next day, he still had the murder weapon in his possession. Despite his claim that the shooting was an accident, investigators quickly determined it was premeditated.

The Murder Trial and Conviction

Christopher Prichard was charged with first-degree murder and faced trial in early 2024. Prosecutors presented evidence of his repeated violations of the no-contact order, his stalking behavior, and his open threats toward Angela. They also introduced testimony from law enforcement officers who had interacted with Angela in her final weeks, as well as family members who had witnessed her growing fear.

The jury found Christopher guilty of first-degree murder in February 2024, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, Christopher has since filed an appeal, arguing that the police’s handling of his previous arrests and interactions with Angela was prejudicial to his case. His legal team contends that his history of violating the restraining order should not have been used as evidence of premeditation.

A Systemic Failure: The Lawsuit Against Bellevue Police

In the wake of Angela’s murder, her sons, Joshua Close and Colton Hancock, filed a lawsuit against the Bellevue Police Department. The lawsuit alleges that the department’s repeated failure to enforce the restraining order and arrest Christopher for prior violations directly contributed to Angela’s death. The legal action argues that police officers displayed favoritism toward Christopher, who had a personal relationship with some members of the department.

Court documents reveal that despite multiple violations of the restraining order, Christopher was only briefly jailed. Even when he failed to appear for his court-mandated sentence, police failed to take action. Angela’s family asserts that had Christopher been arrested and held in custody, Angela would still be alive today.

However, in a controversial ruling, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in late 2024, stating that law enforcement had no constitutional duty to protect individuals from harm. The ruling cited the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Castle Rock v. Gonzales, which determined that police officers do not have a legal obligation to enforce restraining orders. Angela’s sons have appealed the decision, determined to hold the Bellevue Police Department accountable for what they see as a fatal failure of justice.

A Case That Calls for Change

Angela Prichard’s case highlights the devastating consequences of gaps in the legal system when it comes to protecting victims of domestic violence. Despite the existence of restraining orders and legal protections, enforcement remains inconsistent. Law enforcement agencies often exercise discretion in handling these cases, and as seen in Angela’s situation, that discretion can lead to deadly consequences.

Domestic violence advocates have pointed to Angela’s case as a rallying cry for reform. Many argue that stricter laws are needed to ensure the immediate arrest and detention of individuals who violate protective orders. Additionally, some are calling for better training for law enforcement officers to recognize the escalating patterns of abuse and take proactive measures to prevent violence.

Angela’s family continues to fight for justice, not just in her name but for other victims who find themselves in similar situations. As 48 Hours revisits this heartbreaking case, it serves as a stark reminder of the cost of inaction and the urgent need for systemic change in how domestic violence cases are handled.

Tune In for the Full Investigation

The 48 Hours special, Could Angela Prichard Have Been Saved?, will air on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10:00 PM ET/PT on CBS. This episode promises an in-depth look at Angela’s final days, exclusive interviews with her family and law enforcement officials, and a hard-hitting examination of the failures that allowed her tragic murder to happen.