CLEMMONS, NC — The name Pazuzu Illah Algarad is one that still sends chills down the spine of many who are familiar with his horrifying actions. The notorious figure, whose crimes shocked the nation, is remembered for his involvement in the brutal murders of two men, whose remains were found buried in his backyard.
Early Life and Transformation
Pazuzu Illah Algarad, born John Alexander Lawson in San Francisco in December 1978, was raised in Forsyth County, North Carolina. From a seemingly normal upbringing, his life spiraled into a dark path following his mother’s remarriage. As a teenager, Algarad began to show signs of mental distress, experiencing significant anxiety, paranoia, and a growing disinterest in school. His mental health issues deepened, and by the age of 27, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and agoraphobia, compounded by his struggles with alcohol and drugs.
His obsession with the occult began during his teenage years, leading him to adopt the name Pazuzu, after a demon from ancient Mesopotamian mythology. Algarad altered his appearance, undergoing tattoos that reflected his obsession with evil, and eventually, he mutilated his teeth to resemble those of a predator.
The Murders of Joshua Wetzler and Tommy Dean Welch
Algarad’s descent into violence began in the late 2000s, when he and his self-described wife, Amber Nicole Burch, began killing. The first victim, Joshua Wetzler, was murdered in July 2009. Algarad claimed that Wetzler had been shot multiple times for being a “snitch,” and his body was buried in the backyard of Algarad’s home, a disturbing act that went unnoticed for weeks.
Just months later, Tommy Dean Welch, a friend of the couple, was also murdered. The disturbing sounds of gunshots alerted Algarad’s mother, Cynthia James, but when she entered the house, she was instructed to return to her room. Welch’s body was similarly disposed of, hidden beneath the floorboards as Algarad and Burch continued their twisted journey of destruction.
The Investigation and Discovery
Though neighbors and acquaintances had suspected foul play for years, it wasn’t until February 2010 that authorities took serious action. Terina Billings, a woman whose father had been involved with Algarad, provided a tip that led investigators to the house on Knob Hill Drive. However, despite suspicious behavior and rumors of bodies buried in the backyard, the sheriff’s office struggled to find concrete evidence to justify a search.
But the breaking point came when Amber Nicole Burch confided in another woman, Dixie Ross, who later reported hearing Burch admit to her involvement in Welch’s murder. The final breakthrough came when an anonymous tip in September 2014 led law enforcement to conduct a second search of Algarad’s home. This time, the search proved to be successful.
The Discovery of the Bodies
On October 5, 2014, the long-suspected bodies of Joshua Wetzler and Tommy Dean Welch were finally uncovered from beneath the backyard of Pazuzu Algarad’s home. They were found buried in shallow graves, partially decomposed, and hidden by the remnants of years of neglect and filth in the house.
Authorities arrested Pazuzu Illah Algarad and Amber Nicole Burch. Both were charged with murder and accessory to murder, respectively. They were held without bond as investigations continued. The discovery of the remains shocked the community and the world, as the gruesome reality of what had been happening in that house came to light.
The Final Days of Pazuzu Illah Algarad
Algarad was later transferred to Central Prison in Raleigh, where he would serve out his sentence. But the demons that had plagued him throughout his life remained. In October 2015, Pazuzu Illah Algarad died by suicide, using a sharp object to sever a major blood vessel in his left arm. His death was ruled as suicide, and it brought an end to the chilling saga of his crimes.
At the time of his death, Algarad had numerous tattoos across his face, including the names of Lucifer and Satan, a chilling testament to the man he had become. His mother, Cynthia James, kept his remains in an urn, a symbol of the unthinkable horrors that had unfolded under her roof.
Legacy and Impact
The case of Pazuzu Illah Algarad serves as a disturbing reminder of how unchecked mental illness, substance abuse, and toxic ideologies can spiral into unspeakable violence. His story has left an indelible mark on the people who knew him and on the community of Clemmons, NC.
Algarad’s crimes were heinous, and the long years of living with the fear of what had happened in his home continue to haunt the families of the victims. The discovery of the bodies, though delayed, provided some closure to the victims’ families. However, the lasting scars left by the murders and the mystery surrounding Algarad’s troubled life remain to be fully understood.
Conclusion
Pazuzu Illah Algarad’s story is a tragic one—a man who was consumed by his demons and left a trail of devastation in his wake. His mental health struggles, combined with his obsession with evil, set the stage for a nightmare that would forever change the lives of those around him. The victims, Joshua Wetzler and Tommy Dean Welch, will never be forgotten, and their deaths serve as a grim reminder of the horrors that can unfold behind closed doors.
As law enforcement continues to analyze the depths of Algarad’s crimes, the case remains a chilling example of what can happen when society fails to address mental health and violence at an early stage.
