Christopher Wright, the 73-year-old gun-obsessed pensioner who murdered former lodger Richard Dyson and hid his body in a concrete-filled barrel, has been pictured for the first time. Wright was convicted at Sheffield Crown Court after a trial that revealed his stash of illegal weapons and attempts to cover up the killing. His accomplice, Karl Schwalbe, 72, from Rotherham, was also found guilty of helping to derail the investigation.
Disappearance and Discovery
Richard Dyson, 55, vanished in 2019 after failing to meet his daughter Bethany. His remains were only found last July on a property in Barnsley. CCTV showed Schwalbe arriving at Wright’s home shortly after the murder, staying for around an hour, before both men later lied to police and denied knowing anything about Richard’s disappearance.
A fresh examination of Wright's mobile phone in July last year revealed that Wright had telephoned the owner of the nearby Alderthwaite Farm three days after Dyson was last known to be alive. A written diary entry kept by the farm's owner confirmed that Wright had requested to leave a trailer at the farm for a matter of days. He never came back to collect it.
When officers attended Alderthwaite Farm in July 2025, they uncovered a blue plastic barrel filled with concrete concealing human remains. Forensic specialists were able to confirm that the DNA matched that of Richard Dyson. A name badge bearing Wright's name was also recovered from the trailer.
Weapons and Evidence
Further investigation into Wright's background established that his firearms licence had been revoked in 2016. Despite this, he continued to hold onto them, and analysis of the weapons discovered at his address revealed they matched the type used to kill Richard. His bank card records also indicated that he had purchased materials from a local building supplies shop in the period between Richard's disappearance and Wright's visit to Alderthwaite Farm.
Jamie Barton, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, said: "For six years, Richard Dyson's loved ones were left without any answers about what had happened to him. Despite Christopher Wright's persistent attempts to thwart police investigations and cover up his crimes, we were able to work with South Yorkshire Police to gather evidence and present it in court to expose his guilt. Wright brutally murdered Richard Dyson, and then enlisted his lifelong friend to help cover his tracks. Schwalbe may not have pulled the trigger, but his lies and actions were part of a deliberate attempt to stop justice ever being delivered."
Barton added: "This was a complex case, which relied on a combination of phone records, CCTV, forensic science, firearms evidence and covert recordings to prove to the jury what Wright and Schwalbe had tried so hard to conceal. The CPS worked closely with police to bring that evidence together and show the jury how events before and after Mr Dyson's disappearance fitted together. I am pleased that both men have finally been held accountable for their roles in Richard Dyson's death and the years-long cover-up that followed. Our thoughts remain with Mr Dyson's family."
Tribute from Police
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles, who led the investigation, said: "Richard's family and loved ones have endured an unimaginable wait for answers and clarity and my thoughts remain with them. No one deserves to lose their lives at the hands of someone else, and the impact of this tragedy has been felt by those who loved him every single day. Throughout this long investigation, Bethany and Richard's wider family have shown extraordinary strength by attending court every day and listening to heartbreaking evidence, testimonies and defence. No verdict can erase what they have been through, but I hope it brings them a measure of clarity and the first steps towards healing. They have carried a burden no family should ever have to bear. Today, we remember Richard."
