Texas mother died from accident and gun attack in St. Louis County

St. Louis County, Missouri – Delisha Evans was already dead before a multi-state chase for her ex-boyfriend ended in Affton with a rollover crash and gunfire, state police said Wednesday.

Before the accident on September 6, police in Princeton, Texas, had issued a missing person report for Evans because they were concerned for her safety after authorities were called to a fire at her home and the mother of two was nowhere to be found.

The Texas Department of Public Safety notified the Missouri State Highway Patrol that Evans' ex-boyfriend, Ryan Phillips, was traveling to the St. Louis area in a red Range Rover and that Evans may be with him and in danger.

State police troopers spotted the vehicle on Interstate 44 and the pursuit ended on South Rock Hill Road near Pardee Road in Affton, where the SUV overturned.

According to police, Phillips raised a gun and pointed it at the police officers, who then fired, hitting him. Whether Phillips shot the officers is still under investigation.

Evans and Phillips were both pronounced dead at the scene, but the time of Evans' death was not immediately clear. Although official autopsy results are still pending, officials confirmed Wednesday that Evans was already dead before the crash.

“I believe my mother was dead on September 5th, 2024 and was pronounced dead on September 6th,” said 12-year-old De'Mya Miller, who spoke to 5 On Your Side last week because she wanted to give her mother a voice. “I believe he killed her Thursday afternoon and lied to my face. I believe he knew all along and I believe he had a good opportunity to kill us. Thankfully he didn't. He took someone I really need in my life away from me.”

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Friends of Evans said she and Phillips – both originally from St. Louis – had a complex and toxic past and that he had previously threatened to kill her. The couple separated in August.

Phillips pleaded guilty in 2018 to shooting two police officers in St. Louis in October 2014. He was sentenced to ten years in prison.

A spokesman for the Missouri Department of Corrections said Phillips was released in September 2021. He was given credit for 1,140 days served before being sent to state prison.

The investigation is still ongoing and a final report will be released at a later date, the state police said.