Charges Filed Against Pittsfield Man in Domestic Dispute Death

Charges were filed Tuesday against a Pittsfield man in connection with an alleged domestic dispute that resulted in the death of a Pittsfield woman.

In Pike County Circuit Court, 63 year old David Sampley was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery.

Pittsfield Police officers and Pike County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a domestic dispute Monday evening in Pittsfield.

Officers found 61 year old Sharon Welch, who was pronounced dead at Illini Community Hospital a short time later.

Authorities say Sampley and Welch were living together and that Sampley had been released from jail two days earlier on a 2016 domestic battery charge, also involving Welch.

Sampley is being held without bond in the Pike County Jail. He is set to appear in court Thursday.