TL;DR: U.S. Marshals arrested a 62-year-old Northeast Washington man on Oct. 26 on a grand jury indictment charging second-degree murder in the death of a 54-year-old woman found in January 2025.
A 62-year-old Northeast Washington man has been arrested on a murder charge in the death of a 54-year-old woman whose body was found in January 2025, the Metropolitan Police Department announced on Oct. 26, 2026.
Members of the United States Marshals Service located and arrested Robert Bellamy of Northeast, D.C., on Monday, Oct. 26. He will be charged pursuant to a D.C. Superior Court grand jury indictment with second-degree murder, police said. The charge is an allegation, and Bellamy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The victim was Thameka Harvell, 54, of Northeast, D.C. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at approximately 5:02 a.m., Fifth District officers responded to the 600 block of Rhode Island Avenue, Northeast, for a report of an unconscious person. Officers found an adult woman unconscious and not responsive, and D.C. Fire and EMS pronounced her dead after finding no signs consistent with life.
How a death became a homicide case
Harvell was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. In April 2025, the death was determined to have been caused by a blunt force head injury with other contributing factors, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, police said. That ruling, months after the body was found, is what turned an unexplained death into a murder investigation.
The gap between the discovery of a body and a homicide ruling is not unusual. Medical examiners must complete examinations, toxicology and other tests before determining a cause and manner of death, and investigators use that time to gather evidence that may later support a charge.
What an indictment means
Bellamy was arrested on a grand jury indictment, which means a grand jury found enough evidence to formally charge him. An indictment is not a conviction, and the case will now move through Superior Court proceedings, where prosecutors must prove the second-degree murder charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
Police have not publicly described the evidence that led the grand jury to indict Bellamy, nor have they described a motive or the relationship, if any, between Bellamy and Harvell. Those details may emerge in court filings or at a first court appearance.
Why arrests in old cases matter
For families, an arrest nearly two years after a death can bring both relief and renewed grief. A named suspect and a formal charge give a case a public shape it did not have while it was an open, unsolved investigation, even though the legal process ahead may take many more months.
Investigators in cold or slow-moving homicide cases typically revisit witness statements, forensic results and records as new information arrives. The involvement of the U.S. Marshals Service in locating Bellamy suggests investigators knew where to find him once the indictment was issued, and moved to take him into custody promptly.
What happens next
Bellamy’s next steps will be set by the Superior Court: an initial appearance, arraignment on the indictment, and pretrial proceedings in which the defence can challenge the evidence. If the case goes to trial, prosecutors will have to present the medical examiner’s findings and the evidence linking Bellamy to Harvell’s death.
Police have not said whether they are seeking anyone else in connection with the death. Anyone with information about the January 2025 incident on Rhode Island Avenue, Northeast, is urged to contact the Metropolitan Police Department.
Featured image: representative scene photo, not a photo of the people or the exact location in this case. Image source: New York Governor's Office crime scene photo
Sources: Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C..
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested?
Robert Bellamy, 62, of Northeast, Washington, D.C., arrested Oct. 26, 2026, by members of the U.S. Marshals Service.
What is he charged with?
Second-degree murder, pursuant to a D.C. Superior Court grand jury indictment. The charge is an allegation.
Who was the victim?
Thameka Harvell, 54, of Northeast, D.C.
When was she found?
On Jan. 7, 2025, at about 5:02 a.m., in the 600 block of Rhode Island Avenue, Northeast, after officers responded to a report of an unconscious person.
What caused her death?
In April 2025, the medical examiner determined the death was caused by a blunt force head injury with other contributing factors, and ruled the manner of death a homicide.
Does an indictment mean he is guilty?
No. An indictment is a formal charge. Bellamy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
