Tragedy struck earlier this month, when a Texas mother, Delisha Evans, was found dead following a vehicular crash and subsequent shootout involving her ex-boyfriend, Ryan Phillips, in St. Louis County. In a disquieting revelation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has confirmed that Evans was deceased prior to the incident that led to Phillips' death at the hands of police.
The chase and violent conclusion unfolded on September 6, after Texas authorities raised the alarm for Evans' whereabouts and expressed concern for her safety. According to KSDK, Evans' disappearance followed a fire at her residence in Princeton, Texas. It was then, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a critical missing person alert, and it was suggested that Evans might be in danger, with Phillips en route to the St. Louis area.
The situation culminated on South Rock Hill Road near Pardee Road in Affton, where a pursuit ended with the couple's red Range Rover overturned. Phillips reportedly brandished a gun at police officers, who responded with lethal force when he emerged from the wreckage. The exact interaction between Phillips and the officers remains under investigation, as per Branson Tri-Lakes News.
While the details surrounding Evans' death are still obscured, Sergeant Bradley R. Germann with the Missouri Patrol divulged to the Post-Dispatch that Evans had indeed passed away before the crash occurred. The final autopsy report, which is pending, is expected to shed more light on the timing and cause of her death.
In a poignant interview with KSDK, Evans' young daughter, De'Mya Miller offered a heart-rending perspective on the loss of her mother. "I think my mom was dead Sept. 5, 2024, and was pronounced dead Sept. 6," Miller said. "I think he killed her Thursday afternoon and he lied about it to my face, and I think he knew the entire time and I think he had a good opportunity to kill us. Thankfully, he didn't. He took somebody that I think I really need in my life."
