Newly released records reveal new details in the shooting death of a 55-year-old Delaware County woman.
Tamela D. Dutcher died Aug. 14 on Bean Oller Road. Her husband called 911 saying he heard a gunshot and saw a man running out the front door, according to a recording of the call The Dispatch obtained via a public records request.
Bryanna Dutcher, 18, is charged with murder in her mother’s death in the Delaware County Common Pleas Court. Bryanna’s boyfriend, Christian Evans, 20, and his roommate, Dajameous Payne, 21, are also charged with murder.
In a probable cause affidavit, authorities allege that Bryanna argued with her mom about cleaning before the shooting. Initially, Bryanna did not mention Evans and said she had been cleaning a utility
room in the home during the shooting, saw nothing and heard gunshots, according to the affidavit.
Court filings accuse Bryanna, Evans and Payne of entering the home, shooting Tamela and firing at her husband but don't specify who pulled the trigger. Bryanna is also charged with obstruction of justice, with detectives alleging in a criminal complaint that she repeatedly made false statements while they questioned her.
Mother, daughter argued before fatal shooting
After additional questioning, Bryanna admitted she had a relationship with Evans that her family did not know about, according to the affidavit. She said she kept the relationship a secret because Evans is Black, her parents were “very racist” and she feared they would kick her out of the house.
Bryanna told detectives she and her mom argued about cleaning that night and someone punched her in the nose. The name of the person she said punched her was redacted in records provided to The Dispatch.
Bryanna said the blow bloodied her nose, but detectives didn’t see any obvious facial injuries, according to the affidavit.
After the fight, Bryanna said she vented to Evans on the phone. He said, “if I were you I would’ve killed her,” Bryanna told detectives, according to the affidavit.
Later, Evans and Payne showed up at the house, she told detectives. She said she refused to go with them because she had to take care of the horses, and the men left, according to the affidavit. About 10 minutes later she heard gunshots, according to the affidavit.
Men arrested as detectives prepared to search apartment
The sheriff’s office came upon Evans and Payne as they were about to search Evans’ apartment on Trotters Circle in Delaware. First, they saw him leave the apartment with a white garbage bag and throw it into a dumpster, according to the affidavit.
Then detectives watched Evans and Payne walk out of the apartment and climb into Evan’s car, according to the affidavit. The sheriff’s office blocked the car in and arrested the two men.
Detectives pulled the trash bag from the dumpster. Inside they found part of a gun holster and two pairs of black pants, according to the affidavit.
While searching the home, they also seized several electronics, a lease that listed Bryanna as a resident of the apartment along with the two men, an empty pregnancy test box and wet clothing, according to the affidavit.
Both men declined to speak to investigators, but Evans said he was “sorry for what he did,” according to the affidavit.
Evans’ father contacted the sheriff’s office after the shooting. He told detectives his son told him he “f---ed up” or “did something he shouldn’t have” but wouldn’t elaborate, according to the affidavit and a copy of a sheriff’s office radio log.
Evan’s father could view his location on Life360, an app some families use to track each other. He provided details about his son’s movements that night to detectives, and the data placed Evans near Bean Oller Road at the time of the shooting, according to the affidavit.
Judge Alexis Hartman set a $3 million bond for each defendant on Aug. 17. All three remained at the Delaware County Jail as of noon Aug. 19.
Public safety and breaking news reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Court records reveal details in Delaware County mom's shooting death
