The ongoing case of De Aujalae Evans, who is accused of intoxication manslaughter in the death of Fort Worth Police Sergeant Billy Randolph, has seen a new development as her lawyers are actively seeking reduced bail for their client, as per court documents filed this month. Evans, whose bond is currently set at a steep $750,000, was arrested following the tragic incident that occurred on August 12 on I-35W, where she reportedly drove under the influence and fatally struck Sgt. Randolph, who was attending to a crash scene at the time of the incident. The defense claims that the current bail amount is "excessive, oppressive and beyond the financial means of [Evans]" and is therefore unconstitutional, according to FOX 4 News.
On the fateful morning, Evans allegedly had around 10 shots of alcohol and, after hitting Sgt. Randolph continued to drive for more than a quarter of a mile before attempting to flee the scene, she did so by running to a Motel 6 parking lot, as detailed in an arrest warrant affidavit, as per WFAA reported. It is also worth noting that Tarrant County records indicate that Evans has a history of prior arrests and was on probation for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon at the time of Sgt. Randolph's death. Embedded in her probation terms was a clear directive against the consumption of alcohol and a mandate to complete a prevention program for batterers. The lawyer's request aims to obtain a court hearing to deliberate on the evidentiary basis of the bond's reduction to a "reasonable" amount.
This isn't the first brush with the law for Evans, who previously pleaded guilty to shooting her romantic partner back in 2023, an offense that led to a sentence of six years' probation instead of imprisonment; a decision now scrutinized in light of current events. Police reports also reveal that an officer "noted the odor of an alcoholic beverage" on Evans' breath following the incident, and visible signs of intoxication were present, such as watery eyes and slurred speech, adding layers to the already complex narrative, as reiterated by WFAA.
