On the morning of September 6th, the Princeton Police and Fire departments responded to a structure fire at the 3000 block of Winding Meadow. During the response, family members informed authorities that Delisha Evans, a resident of the home and missing person, had not been seen. Collin County property records confirmed that Evans had been living at the residence since 2021.
As investigators looked into Evans' disappearance, they identified Ryan Phillips as a suspect. Working with the Texas Rangers, law enforcement gathered information on Phillips' direction of travel.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), just before 4 p.m. on Friday, they received a call from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) regarding a 33-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman believed to be heading towards the St. Louis area. Texas DPS expressed concerns for the woman’s safety.
Around 5:30 p.m., MSHP troopers spotted the vehicle reported by Texas DPS on Interstate 44 near Missouri 141. When troopers attempted to pull the vehicle over, Phillips fled, leading to a pursuit. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed and overturned on South Rock Hill Road in Crestwood, Missouri.
During the pursuit, Missouri troopers reported gunshots were exchanged between Phillips and law enforcement. Phillips was pronounced dead at the scene, and troopers later found Delisha Evans deceased inside the vehicle.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is actively collaborating with the Princeton Police Department and Texas Rangers in this ongoing investigation.
