Man charged with murder in 2025 death of woman on Rhode Island Avenue NE

By Ezra Whitfield

WASHINGTON — A 62-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a woman found unconscious on Rhode Island Avenue NE in January 2025, more than 18 months after her death, D.C. police said.

U.S. Marshals arrested Robert Bellamy, of Northeast Washington, on Monday, Oct. 26, the Metropolitan Police Department said. He is charged under a D.C. Superior Court grand jury indictment, police said.

Fifth District officers responded at about 5:02 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, to the 600 block of Rhode Island Avenue NE for a report of an unconscious person and found a woman unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim was identified as Thameka Harvell, 54, of Northeast, WTOP reported. In April 2025, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined she died of a blunt-force head injury with other contributing factors and ruled the death a homicide.

An indictment, not a complaint

Because the case comes by grand jury indictment, a grand jury has already found probable cause to charge Bellamy. Police did not say what led investigators to him or describe any relationship between him and Harvell.

Police did not say when Bellamy is expected to appear in court.

Charges are accusations, and Bellamy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The Inquisitor has asked MPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia when he will be arraigned and whether he has a lawyer.

Anyone with information can call police at (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.