A grieving Alabama family is left shattered after the tragic death of 40-year-old LaVentrice Denise Tolbert, a woman whose haunting final words to her sister revealed the depth of fear she carried in her relationship.
Tolbert was shot and killed on Sept. 24 by her longtime boyfriend, 35-year-old Tony Dewayne Davis, inside a home where multiple people were present.
According to reports, after pulling the trigger, Davis turned the gun on himself. He died two days later at a local hospital.
Family members said the couple’s seven-year relationship was marked by toxicity and fear. Just days before her death, Denise confided in her sister, Monique Tolbert, leaving her with a chilling warning.
“She told me, ‘When I leave, you’ll be the one to plan my funeral,’” Monique recalled. “I brushed it off. Two days later, I got the worst call of my life.”
Neighbors and loved ones say Denise’s death is a devastating reminder of the dangers many women face in abusive relationships. Monique now hopes her sister’s story can encourage others to seek help before it’s too late.
“To other women going through abuse: you don’t have to suffer in silence,” she said. “Seek help, talk to somebody, let them know what’s going on.”
Authorities confirmed there were multiple witnesses inside the home at the time of the shooting. One individual said she heard the gunshot from her bedroom and rushed downstairs to find Davis holding a gun to his own head.
His reported last words were, “I’m not going back to jail.”
Denise’s death highlights an ongoing crisis of intimate partner violence in the U.S., where victims often live in silence, fear, and danger. Advocates stress the importance of support systems and intervention programs to prevent tragedies like this one.
