Who Is Bryanna Dutcher? Ohio Murder Case

Bryanna Dutcher is an 18-year-old woman from Delaware, Ohio, who has been charged with murder and obstructing justice in connection with the shooting death of her mother, 55-year-old Tamela Dutcher. Authorities allege Dutcher helped plan the killing with her boyfriend, Christian Evans, 20, and his roommate, Dajameous Payne, 21. Dutcher was initially arrested on an obstruction charge before prosecutors added a murder charge.

Bryanna Dutcher Murder Allegations

Dutcher Initially Charged With Obstruction, Later Charged With Murder. Authorities initially arrested Dutcher for obstructing justice after her mother was fatally shot at the family’s Delaware County home. Prosecutors subsequently charged Dutcher with murder, alleging that evidence uncovered during the investigation showed she participated in planning the killing. [READ MORE]

Prosecutors Say Deleted Text Messages Showed Dutcher And Her Boyfriend Planning The Killing. During Dutcher’s court appearance, prosecutors said investigators recovered deleted messages exchanged between Dutcher and Evans that appeared to discuss killing her parents. Among the messages attributed to Evans were statements about getting gloves and taking both parents out at the same time. Dutcher has denied that she participated in planning the shooting. [READ MORE]

Police Say Dutcher Argued With Her Mother About Cleaning Hours Before Shooting. According to a probable-cause affidavit, Dutcher and her mother had argued about household cleaning earlier in the day. Dutcher allegedly complained about the argument to Evans, who responded, “If I were you, I would have killed her.” Investigators allege communications between the pair continued before the shooting. [READ MORE]

Dutcher Told Investigators Her Parents Did Not Know About Her Boyfriend. Dutcher allegedly told investigators that her parents were unaware she was dating Evans, who is Black, because she believed they were “very racist” and would kick her out if they learned about the relationship. Despite that statement, Dutcher initially denied Evans was involved in the shooting. [READ MORE]

Authorities: Evans And Payne Entered Dutcher Home And Shot Tamela Dutcher. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office alleges Evans and Payne entered the home shortly after midnight and shot Tamela Dutcher. When Tamela’s husband attempted to help her, authorities say the men fired another shot at him but missed before fleeing. Tamela Dutcher was transported to a hospital and later died. [READ MORE]

Investigators Say Dutcher Initially Misled Police About What Happened. According to the probable-cause affidavit, Dutcher told investigators she did not know who might have wanted to shoot her parents and suggested another possible suspect. Authorities later alleged that she repeatedly lied about what she knew, delaying investigators as they attempted to identify suspects and leads. [READ MORE]

Police Say Evidence Connected Evans And Payne To Scene After Shooting. Investigators said they located Evans and Payne at Evans’ apartment following the shooting. Police allegedly saw Evans throw away a bag containing part of a gun holster and two pairs of black pants. Evans’ father also reportedly provided investigators with location information from a Life360 account placing his son near the Dutcher residence around the time of the shooting. [READ MORE]

Dutcher And Her Co-Defendants Ordered To GPS-Monitored House Arrest If Released. Court records reported by People show Dutcher, Evans and Payne each had bond set at $300,000, with GPS-monitored house arrest ordered as a condition of release. WOSU reported that the three defendants had no previous criminal records and that the next preliminary hearing was scheduled for August 24. [READ MORE]

Victim Tamela Dutcher Had Previously Co-Authored Academic Paper About Homicidal Adolescents. Tamela Dutcher was a doctor who co-authored a 2002 academic paper examining violent and homicidal adolescents. The paper discussed differences between male and female juvenile offenders, including the observation that the comparatively small number of girls who kill tend to target members of their families. [READ MORE]