Man convicted of murdering Barnsley father whose remains were hidden in barrel

A man has been found guilty of murdering a Barnsley father whose remains were discovered concealed inside a barrel almost six years after he disappeared.

An investigation was launched in 2029 after Richard Dyson, 55 from Barnsley, failed to meet his daughter, Bethany, as planned one Sunday afternoon, something police said he did every week without fail.

Officers launched a missing person investigation, issuing appeals for information while Bethany made emotional pleas for her father to come home.

Despite extensive enquiries, Richard remained missing for years as detectives continued trying to establish what had happened to him.

During the investigation, officers learned that Richard and Christopher Wright, 73, had previously fallen out over unconfirmed allegations of stolen guns.

However, with no evidence, detectives were left with suspicions until a lead pointed them towards a trailer owned by Wright, the court heard.

In July 2025, officers searched the trailer at a property on Broadcarr Road, Barnsley, where they discovered Richard's remains concealed inside a blue plastic barrel.

A post-mortem examination found that the 55-year-old had died from gun shot wounds.

Christopher Wright, 73, of Sheffield Road, was arrested and charged with murder. He denied the offence and stood trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

Karl Schwalbe, 72, of Dike Hill, Rotherham, was also charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after jurors heard he had assisted Wright in moving the trailer following telephone conversations between the pair.

Following a six-week trial, on Tuesday (Jul 28), jurors found Wright guilty of murder, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, preventing a lawful burial and firearms offences.

Schwalbe was also found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Leading the work on the investigation, Senior Investigating Officer Andy Knowles 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.”

Wright and Schwalbe will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on August 6 for sentencing.