Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-11
Slain Girls
Parents Tell Of
Violent Affair
'One-Sided' Romance
Blamed for Shooting
OfHieh School Senior

OTnI9n CCnOOI SenlOE
The tragic Staying Of 17-year-
old Joan Marie Ruzza climaxed
a one-sided romance, beset with
violence, the dead girls parents
said last night.
They said Eugene Elmer Bry-
ant, 81, of 54O3 N street, Hillside,
Md. accused of shooting her to
death on Thursday night, had
pressed his attentions on the girl
even after she told him more
than a month ago she no longer
wanted to see him.
The boy and girl had known
each other for seven years. Mr..
Ruzza said, but had been keep
ing company for only about a
year.
They went together fairly
regularly from last July until
they had a fight in January"
Mr.. Ruzza. the girls father. said.
When Bryant began paying
serious attention to Miss Ruzza,
he still was in the Army. He had
been in the Army about two
years, including a year in Korea
as an artillery observer.
Although the youngsters had
spats while they were dating
regularly during those first few
months, no serious difficulties
developed until the January in
cident.
Army Difficulties.
Bryant, meantime, was having
difficulties with the Army. and
in October of last year was dis
honorably discharged, his father,
cambridge Bryant. said.
Mrs. Ruzza said her daughter
did not seem seriously interested |
in young Bryant. and that she
and Mr.. Ruzza did not particu-
larly approve of him as a sutton. |
On last Christmas Day, the !
youth called at the Ruzza home
with surprise.
''He gave her an engagement !
ring as an unexpected Christ
mas present." Mrs. Ruzza said.
But the engagement lasted |
only a week. The couple had !
their first major argument on
New Years Day, and Miss Ruzza /
returned the ring.
They continued seeing each !
other occasionally, but there was
a growing friction. They quar-
relied often.
On March l. there was a par
ticularly violent argument.
Meantime, Miss Ruzza had be-
gun seeing another youth. 49,
year-old former Suitland High |
School student.
When the March l argument
developed, Mr.. Ruzza said. Bry-
ant and a group of his friends |
accosted the younger sutton in
front of the Ruzza home. At |
that time. Mr.. Ruzza said. Bry-
ant came into the home and
boosted that he had a .38-cali-
Der revolver at home.
Talked With Youths Father.
AS result of that, Mr.. Ruzza
asked the youths father to come
to the Ruzza home for a talk.
He reported the boys conversa-
ton to the elder Bryant. Later,
Mr.. Ruzza said, Mr.. Bryant
called and said he had taken the
gun from the fouth and locked
it up"
On March 8, an automobile
belonging to the 19-year-old
sutton caught fire while it was
parked on Dix street Sc. just
over the District line near Cap
itol Heights. The District fire
marshals office suspected arson,
but no charges were filed.
Mrs. Ruzza said Bryant fol-
lowed her daughter to and from
school on several occasions.
On March II Miss RuzZa &C
cused Bryant of trying to force
her into his car and then when
she refused of trying to run her
down with the automobile. Two
assault charges we're filed by
police.
In Upper Marlboro Court the
next day. Judge Nita Human
Crane administered a tongue
lashing to Bryant. fined him $27
on the assault charges and or
dered him to leave Miss Ruzza
alone.
Mr.. Ruzza said he had begun !
to worry about his daughter
after the first argument she had
with Bryant in January. He re-
fused to let her go out at night
unaccompanied. If she went
out, she was ordered to take a
taxicab.
Lately. she had begun to chafe
under the restrictions. Mr..
Ruzza said.
Then. on Thursday night, at
GAS p.m., he permitted her to
leave alone for a trip to a nearby
drugstore.
I'll be back in less than. half
an hour" she told her mother as
she left.
Found Near Home.
But her parents heard no
more until nearly midnight
when police called to inform
thel4. that their daughters
body had been found in a drive
way four blocks from home.
Police arrested Bryant at his
home and after questioning him
for several hours announced
that he admitted pumping five
bullets into her body.