Delisha Evans Obituary, Death – A Texas woman, Delisha Evans, who was reported missing after a fire destroyed her home early Friday, was found dead in Missouri following a high-speed police chase that ended in a crash. The suspect, 33-year-old Ryan Phillips, was killed by state troopers in St. Louis County after the crash, as confirmed by the Princeton, Texas, Police Department. Evans, 30, was found deceased in Phillips’ vehicle.
The situation began around 7:30 a.m. Friday when police and firefighters responded to a fire at Evans’ home in Princeton, Texas. After the fire was extinguished, family members informed authorities that Evans was missing, leading to a search. Investigators believed Evans was in immediate danger and added her information to both state and national databases.
The investigation, supported by Texas Rangers, identified Phillips as a suspect in Evans’ disappearance. Utilizing license plate readers, authorities tracked Phillips’ movements. By Friday night, nearly 600 miles from Princeton, Missouri state troopers located Phillips’ Range Rover on Interstate 44 near Affton. When Phillips refused to stop, a high-speed chase ensued as the SUV exited the highway.
The chase ended in a rollover crash. According to Missouri state officials, a trooper discharged his weapon, and a gun was found near Phillips’ vehicle. While it remains unclear whether Phillips fired at the officers, Princeton Police later confirmed that “gunshots were exchanged.” Investigators have yet to determine if Evans died before, during, or after the crash, or as a result of gunfire.