Dr. Tamela Dutcher, 55, was fatally shot inside her Delaware, Ohio, home shortly after midnight on Aug. 14. Her 18-year-old daughter, Bryanna Dutcher, was subsequently charged with murder, while Bryanna’s boyfriend, Christian Evans, 20, and his roommate Dajameous Payne, 21, also face murder charges.
Investigators say Tamela and her daughter had argued about cleaning hours before the shooting. Prosecutors allege text messages between Bryanna and Evans indicate the killing had been planned, though Bryanna denies participating in any planning. In an unusual connection, Tamela had co-authored a 2002 academic paper titled The violent and homicidal adolescent. Hearts darkened before time, which discussed how female adolescent offenders primarily tend to kill family members.