A 22-year-old Texas mother and a crucial witness in a murder case has been allegedly killed near her workplace in Houston.
Deundrea Ford, a reliable and loved individual according to friends and family, went missing, prompting concern from those who knew her well, especially given her close bond with her 4-year-old son.
Ford had been a witness in a murder case where a man, riding with her in a vehicle, was fatally shot in May, as reported by KHOU.
Disturbing court documents revealed a text message exchange between two suspects implying that Ford’s life was in danger, stating, “She ain’t safe in Houston … at all,” according to KTRK.
The tragic incident unfolded on September 22 when Ford, working at Divas Bikini Sports Bar and Grill, encountered Yoland Washington, a 51-year-old man from New Jersey.
Surveillance cameras captured her conversing with Washington before getting into a white van parked outside, marking the last time she was seen.
Despite her initial plan for her boyfriend to pick her up, Ford sent a text at 1:34 a.m. stating she had found a “date.”
When her boyfriend arrived at the club around 2:23 a.m. to search for her, he found no trace. A minute before his arrival, Washington was seen leaving the parking lot in his van.
Despite extensive efforts, Ford’s body has not been located. However, investigators discovered concerning evidence during a search of Washington’s van.
Using a chemical that reacts with blood, they found illuminated spots throughout the interior, with DNA analysis linking Ford and Washington to bloodstains on the shirt he wore the night of her disappearance.
Washington, with an alarming history of violent offenses against women, has been charged with murder.
The circumstances surrounding Ford’s tragic demise raise questions, with investigators noting inconsistencies in Washington’s account, supported by surveillance footage and Google location data.
While Ford’s body is yet to be found, the evidence gathered suggests a deeply distressing conclusion to a life tragically cut short.
Police have not explicitly stated whether they believe Ford’s murder is connected to her role as a witness in a separate murder investigation.
