DELAWARE — The daughter of a woman killed last week at a Bean Oller Road home is now charged with murder after prosecutors alleged that deleted text messages show the shooting was planned in advance.
Bryanna Dutcher, 18, was initially charged Aug. 14 with obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony, following the shooting death of her mother, 55-year-old Tamela D. Dutcher.
During Dutcher’s initial Delaware County Court of Common Pleas appearance Monday, Chief Criminal Assistant Prosecutor Mark Sleeper announced an additional first-degree felony murder charge with a firearm specification.
Dutcher is one of three people now charged with murder in connection with the Aug. 14 shooting. Dajameous Payne, 21, and Christian Evans, 20, also appeared on Monday for initial hearings.
All three appeared virtually from the Delaware County Jail before Magistrate Cory Goe.
Below is a photo of each defendant. Story continues below Credit: Jack Slemenda / Delaware Source
Sleeper told the court that Bryanna Dutcher initially denied anyone else had been at the home before the shooting.
According to Sleeper, she later told investigators that Payne and Evans had been at the home in the 1600 block of Bean Oller Road but denied being involved in or witnessing what happened inside.
During a forensic download, law enforcement recovered deleted text messages from Dutcher’s phone that were addressed to Payne and Evans.
The messages “appeared to be planning the crime in advance,” Sleeper said.
The firearm specification could add a year to the murder charge’s 15-year to life sentence and a maximum $15,000 fine.
The additional year of prison time from the firearm specification would be mandatory and served consecutively to the murder charge sentence if Dutcher is found guilty.
The possible prison sentence for Dutcher’s obstruction of justice charge is nine to 36 months, with a maximum $10,000 fine.
Despite no prior criminal history and other factors, Goe set Dutcher’s bond at $3 million.
If released on bond, Dutcher would be subject to GPS-monitored house arrest and would not be permitted to return to the Bean Oller Road home. She also would be prohibited from contacting Payne or Evans.
Goe prohibited in-person contact with family members but permitted Dutcher to communicate with family by phone.
The court ordered that Dutcher must appear for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. before Judge Marianne Hemmeter unless the prosecution takes the case before a grand jury and Dutcher is subsequently indicted.
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Two men arrested for Bean Oller Road shooting, daughter of victim also charged
Two men are in custody for allegedly fatally shooting a 55-year-old woman in her home on Bean Oller Road in Delaware.
Payne and Evans
Sleeper said that law enforcement recovered several text messages between Dutcher, Payne and Evans discussing the murder in advance, with one of the text messages indicating that Evans brought a firearm to the Bean Oller Road home.
According to the criminal complaint, Payne and Evans “purposely entered” Tamela Dutcher’s home and shot Tamela Dutcher in the face. The complaint adds that Payne and Evans shot a second round at the other homeowner, Tamela Dutcher’s husband, Neil King, while he was attempting to give medical aid to his wife.
The second shot missed King and the two men then fled the scene, according to the complaint.
Sleeper also described surveillance video investigators obtained from a neighboring property.
“There’s a video from a neighbor that shows Mr. Payne and Mr. Evans dressed in all black, wearing black pants, a black hoodie and one glove each, about an hour and a half before the shooting occurred,” Sleeper said.
He also alleged the two men left Ohio after the shooting before returning later that evening.
“It appears that after the murder was committed, Mr. Evans and Mr. Payne did leave the state of Ohio for a period of time before returning later that evening, where they were taken into custody,” Sleeper said.
Payne and Evans each face one count of first-degree felony murder. The two men do not have prior criminal records, but Goe set both of their bonds at $3 million each.
Both Payne and Evans provided the same Trotter’s Circle address, but should they post bond, Sleeper said the court would have to confirm an address for each to ensure they don’t have contact with one another.
Payne and Evans are also not permitted to have contact with Dutcher and the victim’s family.
The court ordered that Payne and Evans must appear for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. before Judge Marianne Hemmeter unless the prosecution takes their cases before a grand jury and they are subsequently indicted.
