Ex-wife pleads guilty to murder of PTC man

Wed, 11/07/2007 - 10:45am
By: John Munford

DA: photos of Eric Ulrich and fiancee may have 'set off' April Ulrich

A Powder Springs woman pleaded guilty today to killing her ex-husband back in October 2006 at a business in Peachtree City.

April Dawn Ulrich was sentenced to life in prison and will not be allowed to apply for parole for 30 years, said Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard. The plea came just before opening statements were to commence in the trial, and it dramatically reduces the chance of a possible appeal, Ballard noted.

April Ulrich

Ballard said April Ulrich hid the .38 special revolver inside a plastic cup and a cloth bag as she shot at Eric Paul Ulrich four times, hitting him twice. She fired the shots while still sitting in the car, Ballard said.

Just before the shooting, April Ulrich visited the couple’s daughter at Huddleston Elementary School, leaving family jewelry with her and also placing some in her backpack in the gym, Ballard said.

From there, it appears that April Ulrich drove straight to the NCR campus, called her husband outside and shot him, Ballard said.

Ballard said he thinks what may have set April Ulrich off was seeing photos of Eric Ulrich and his fiancee Ling Zhang at his home in Peachtree City, where their daughter lived.

April Ulrich testified in her competency hearing Monday that she thought those photos seemed to get larger and larger each time she would visit her ex-husband’s home.

After the shooting occurred while she was still at school, the couple’s daughter told a teacher that her mother loves her father, and she loves her too, Ballard said. Ballard said that might have been the gist of the final conversation April Ulrich had with her daughter before she committed the shootings.

Ironically as Ulrich left the school, a school counselor had called Eric Ulrich to let him know that April was there visiting their daughter and the counselor also told him that she thought April was planning to visit him at his office.

“He said that was fine,” Ballard said.

When April Ulrich drove onto the NCR campus moments before the shooting, she entered the loop from the wrong direction so the driver’s side of the car would face the building, Ballard said.

After the shots were fired, the NCR security guard briefly held her at bay while Peachtree City police responded quickly to the scene, Ballard said.

Before the killings, April Ulrich had packed up many of her possessions and put them in boxes on her bed, Ballard said. Each box had a note on it explaining who was to receive the items, he added.
April Ulrich also left a box of items on the doorstep of Eric Ulrich’s home before the killings, Ballard said.

Eric Ulrich was shot twice, with one bullet entering the shoulder and another going through his heart and both his lungs before almost completely exiting the body, Ballard said.

The gun, a .38-caliber revolver, was found on the floorboard of April Ulrich’s car and it had four empty casings and one unspent cartridge left, Ballard said. She also had placed the leasing documents from her car in the trunk with a note that the vehicle should be returned to the dealership she had leased it from, Ballard said.

Ballard credited Peachtree City police for putting together a thorough murder investigation. He said despite the department’s lack of experience with murder incidents, they still managed to cover all the bases and then some.

In exchange for the plea deal Ballard dropped the other charges of malice murder, which would have merged with the felony murder count she pled guilty to, and also the charge of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, which could have added no more than five years to her sentence, Ballard said.

April Ulrich had previously testified that she had a nervous breakdown when she was in her 20s and she felt like the symptoms were occurring again before the shooting. Her attorney also noted that at the time of the shooting April Ulrich had not taken any of her medicines prescribed to help with her condition, and she also had been drinking alcohol.

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Submitted by lilly on Tue, 12/25/2007 - 5:27am.

Friend take it from me, some of the people will attack you if you even mention the Christian word - with that said don't let it get to you. Having moved here I have found out alot just by reading what others write.

I am writing to you to tell you I do understand where you are coming from, expect the attack, I have seen it numerous times on here - and of course I will get it also.

I am glad that you are April's friend, she needs one. I know that God put you there for her. Don't expect others to understand that. Believe it or not alot here do not even believe in God, or care to believe in God - or if they do it is a strange way, or they are so confused about God - or their way it seems to be what they think and want God to be, I think they must believe in another God, - let me say it's their way not God's way, if only they read the bible. ?Advice- ignore them and don't respond they - will continue with you, just read some of the comments. But then again there are some that believe in another God than the one we both believe in. I guess the ones that differ their stuff is their security - but you know what Jessica I bet they are very unhappy people. Just read what they write to each other.

There are a few that will speak about the God be both know- they end up with uncalled for remarks to them.

These people would be happy if they knew the God we know.

By the way everyone that responds to me with negative comments, I won't respond to you.

Jessica Merry Christmas

Please continue to be there for April I know you are doing what God wants you to do. Merry Christmas.

Main Stream's picture
Submitted by Main Stream on Tue, 12/25/2007 - 12:00pm.

you sound ridiculous.


Submitted by Justice on Sat, 11/10/2007 - 11:46pm.

I wouldn't worry. This woman was not able to socialize with people at all on any level, and she'll either get killed in prison or take her own life. Our tax dollars won't have to support her for long. As far as her daughter goes, wasn't her ex's family from Germany? Other reports portray them as a very educated and loving family (very much unlike hers). No doubt they get custody of the child, who at around 7, will still get a chance to finish growing up in a normal household now.

I only hope that her relatives do remember to have the girl checked on every so often by a mental health professional. An event and ordeal like this can get supressed and then come out much later in life. It would be a shame if she winds up as messed up as her mother because no one monitored her, so hopefully they'll keep an eye on her as she matures to make sure this event hasn't mentally damaged her in any way.

Submitted by Jessica74 on Tue, 12/25/2007 - 1:58am.

I am April's closest friend. Her family doesn't write to her often. April has severe psychiatric issues (obviously), and she was not on any drugs at the time of the crime, or ever for that matter. April just left the Fayette County Jail last week, and is at Metro Prison in Atlanta for diagnostic testing. She has lost 60 pounds since being in jail. She will make it fine in prison. No, she will not commit suicide or be attacked by other inmates. She is quiet and stays to herself. I am a Christian, and I have a God who is big enough to forgive even murder. He is also big enough to watch over little Nici and give her strength and understanding for the years to come. What we should all be spending our time doing is focusing on what can be done in our society to make psychiatric care readily available for people who need it. Let's figure out a way to get the word out that there is help available, and that it is not shameful to have an illness such as April and many others suffer from. Maybe something like this could be prevented....isn't that what we all want? I feel so sorry for Eric and his family, and I am sorry that he is not with us any longer. I also feel sorry for April. Not because she is in prison for such a long time, as that is the consequence she must pay, but for the emotional issues she is dealing with and will deal with for the rest of her life. She regrets taking Eric's life. She loves her daughter deeply. In fact, Ballard did not "win her case". April took a plea bargain, and she get's out after 14 years...not 30 years. She asked Eric's family if they would allow her to be in contact (through counseling) with Nici, and in if they would allow that, she would take the plea bargain offered and spare putting the family through the trial that she probably could have won a diminished mental capacity not guilty plea considering her mental condition and certain events during and after the marriage that caused her to snap. Her attorney did not want to dwell on a lot of those events out of respect for Eric's family. No one wanted him to be made out as the "bad guy" because no matter what, he did not deserve to die. I am right now working with one of my sister's trying to finish the Christmas package we are sending to April. She is cold and is without tee shirts, thermals, etc. Please do not judge unless you have never made a mistake. Then you may cast the first stone.

Main Stream's picture
Submitted by Main Stream on Tue, 12/25/2007 - 12:13pm.

Although I am not a "Christian", I have deep compassion for your friend, however, what she did was horrific. We never know what goes on in the minds of others and what pushes them to a point of insanity. Some people walk a thinner line, between reason and insanity, than others, as in April's case.

I think most of us really grieve for all those who were impacted by what she did. I hope that April finds peace one day, within herself. It's heartbreaking for everyone.


Submitted by Bonkers on Tue, 12/25/2007 - 8:25am.

If none are allowed to be cast and everything is constantly forgiven, then I am safe from stone casting,aren't I?
Sounds like other talk I hear: I won't judge you, but you are going to hell!

Submitted by Eliza on Thu, 11/08/2007 - 8:38am.

"A jury would never give a mother the death penalty - if for no
other reason, then for the sake of the daughter. A jury would never vote to leave a child an orphan regardless of the circumstances. Scott Ballard did a great job getting a guilty plea. Do you know how long it takes for a death penalty case to go to trial? Do you know how much money it would cost to seek a death penalty? Think about the emotional toll on this little girl.
You must have some other beef with Scott Ballard. He has clearly done the right thing in this case." (Submitted by inquiringminds on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 10:25pm.)

Inquiringminds said it best - Considering the circumstances, this was clearly the best outcome.

Submitted by fayettesince71 on Thu, 11/08/2007 - 2:34am.

"Ballard credited Peachtree City police for putting together a thorough murder investigation. He said despite the department’s lack of experience with murder incidents, they still managed to cover all the bases and then some."

How hard could it have been? The weapon and perp were found on scene and this chick left bread crumbs and eye witnesses all over the city. This was just not an intelligent statement on his part.

Submitted by skyspy on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 4:41pm.

So my tax dollar is going to be used to feed this for 30+ yrs??? Just great!

Submitted by intheknow on Thu, 11/08/2007 - 10:19am.

Actually skyspy, statistically it costs a whole lot less in America to sentence someone to life in prison without parole, then to sentence him or her to death. And I’m not an anti-death sentence advocate, especially in these cases like the Atlanta courthouse case, with witnesses and video like so many – being obvious of the act and criminal. Death sentences always run into the millions with the entire process and appeals, where life for these obvious scumbags typically runs something around 30-40k a year to house them in prison.

Submitted by INTHEKNOW07 on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 4:02pm.

DA Ballard has once again dropped the ball. This case was CLEARLY a death penalty case. April's premeditation was never in question. The jury for her hearing to determine if she was mentally fit deliberated merely minutes before concluding that she was mentally fit. Everyone involved in this case knew that April planned and executed the death of her ex-husband. DA Ballard simply does not have the backbone needed for his position. He took the easy way out. A first year law student could have prosecuted this case and got life in prison. Now, April will continue to torture and harass this family from prison for the next 30 years. A defense attorney can not make the transition into prosecution and Ballard is an ongoing example to that.

Sniffles's picture
Submitted by Sniffles on Thu, 11/08/2007 - 11:13am.

I have to disagree with you, InTheKnow.

While I disagree with Scott Ballard on virtually everything else, I think that he did the right thing with this negotiated plea.

The simple fact of the matter is, America rarely executes white women. Heck, it rarely executes women, PERIOD. There are only 49 women on death row across America, and only 3 women since 1976 have been executed for killing their husband, and all three women killed their spouses in pre-planned murders for insurance purposes. The vast majority of women on death row were convicted of killing either their children or a police officer.

Ballard is no prize, but he acted appropriately here.


inquiringminds's picture
Submitted by inquiringminds on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 10:25pm.

other reason, then for the sake of the daughter. A jury would never vote to leave a child an orphan regardless of the circumstances. Scott Ballard did a great job getting a guilty plea. Do you know how long it takes for a death penalty case to go to trial? Do you know how much money it would cost to seek a death penalty? Think about the emotional toll on this little girl.
You must have some other beef with Scott Ballard. He has clearly done the right thing in this case.


Submitted by alex on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 3:02pm.

This is unbelievable! She killed her daughter's only father. She even lived with her dad. I'm sure she loved him very much. Now, she cannot see her beloved daddy anymore. This woman is sick and twisted. She deserves life in prison. Hopefully she has time in prison to search her soul for what she has done.

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