AFFTON, Mo. — A tragic sequence of events unfolded in South St. Louis County as a police pursuit ended with a fatal SUV rollover on Friday night, leading to the deaths of a man and woman from Texas.
Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the deceased as Delisha Evans and Ryan Phillips. Reports reveal that the two, both originally from St. Louis, had previously been involved in a tumultuous relationship. A friend of Evans described their past as fraught with difficulties and alleged threats to Evans’ safety made by Phillips.
The incident began around 5:40 p.m. at an intersection in Affton, where law enforcement officers were in pursuit of a red Range Rover driven by Phillips. Phillips, wanted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, had reportedly been heading to the St. Louis area. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Phillips refused, leading to a high-speed chase.
The pursuit continued onto South Elm Avenue and then South Rockhill Road, where the situation escalated dramatically. According to local resident Kyle Moder, who witnessed the event from his home, approximately 10-15 shots were heard before the SUV overturned. “We saw the heavy presence of police and their tactical equipment being deployed — we knew it was a grave situation,” Moder explained.
Authorities later pronounced both Phillips and Evans dead at the scene. A firearm was found near the overturned vehicle and investigators confirmed a trooper discharged their weapon during the incident. However, the exact cause of death for Phillips and Evans remains under investigation.
The backstory to this tragic event starts back in November of the previous year near Dallas, Texas. Evans, affectionately known as DeDe, and Phillips began dating but their relationship deteriorated over time. Salomi Momoh, a friend of Evans, recounted multiple instances where Phillips allegedly threatened Evans’ life. Their relationship ended in August, yet the conflict continued to loom.
Evans, a mother to two daughters aged 13 and 4, was cherished by many for her vibrant personality and loving nature, Momoh emphasized. The complexities of her relationship with Phillips culminated in a calamitous week, starting with her disappearance after being last seen on a Wednesday night. In the following days, Phillips played a role close enough to drive Evans’ elder daughter to school using a rental car.
Adding to the distress, Evans’ residence in Texas was later discovered to have been set ablaze, raising suspicions of arson. This alarming development prompted local police in Princeton, Texas, to issue a critical missing person alert for Evans on Friday morning, naming Phillips as a primary suspect.
As the details of this case continue to unfold, those close to Evans mourn her loss and grapple with unanswered questions about the circumstances leading to their tragic deaths. Momoh mournfully expressed her grief, lamenting that they would “never get a why” or come “to a place of understanding” regarding the cruel fate that befell her friend.
In the wake of these harrowing events, advocates urge those experiencing domestic violence to seek help promptly to prevent such devastating outcomes. Resources are available through various organizations like Safe Connections and Alternatives to Living In Violent Environments, offering support and assistance to those in need.