Ex-Boyfriend Charged In Murder Of Woman Found In Northeast D.C. Dumpster

D.C. police have arrested 58-year-old Richard Dyson in the murder of 62-year-old Donella Bryan, a mother, grandmother, and longtime dental assistant whose body was found in a dumpster behind Hechinger Mall in Northeast D.C. in April.

Investigators say Dyson, Bryan’s ex-boyfriend and roommate, killed her, purchased a red plastic bin, and—with help from his neighbor, Perry Brown—disposed of her body. Brown was not initially considered a suspect but was recently found dead in his apartment with a white powdery substance nearby. Police searched Dyson’s apartment and reportedly found what appeared to be blood droplets in the entryway. Authorities believe the incident stemmed from domestic violence.

Bryan’s daughter said the arrest marks the first step toward closure and thanked the detectives for their hard work and commitment to solving the case. Dyson has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 18.