Suspect who pleaded guilty to Fort Worth Sgt. Billy Randolph’s death sentenced to life in prison
Woman sentenced to life in prison for death of officer
A Tarrant County jury sentenced DeAujalae Evans to life in prison Monday afternoon after she pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter for the 2024 death of Fort Worth Sgt. Billy Randolph.
FORT WORTH, Texas - A Tarrant County jury sentenced DeAujalae Evans to life in prison Monday afternoon after she pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter for the 2024 death of Fort Worth Sgt. Billy Randolph.
DeAujalae Evans Sentencing
De Aujalae Evans
What's new:
DeAujalae Evans was sentenced to life in prison by a Tarrant County jury on Monday afternoon for her involvement in the fatal crash that killed Fort Worth Police officer Billy Randolph.
Jurors took around an hour to deliberate on Evans' sentence. They had been listening to testimony since Thursday in the punishment phase of DeAujalae Evans’s trial.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Drunk driver pleads guilty in death of Fort Worth officer
Just before her trial was set to begin, a woman pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter in a crash that killed a Fort Worth police officer. FOX 4's Peyton Yager has more.
Both sides rested their case and gave closing arguments on Monday afternoon. The sentencing phase is still underway, with Randolph's family members currently in court giving statements.
What they're saying:
Fort Worth Police released the following tweet after Evans was sentenced.
"There have to be consequences to actions, or nothing we do up here matters," Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Lloyd Whelchel told the jury in closing arguments.
"Sgt. Billy Randolph "died the way he lived – serving you," he said. "Give justice to the life he lived by sentencing her to life."
Sgt. Billy Randolph’s Death
Sgt. Billy Randolph
The backstory:
The Fort Worth Police Department lost a beloved, long-time officer when Sgt. Billy Randolph died in August of 2024.
Fort Worth Police Sgt. Billy Randolph remembered at emotional funeral service
On Saturday, the Fort Worth community will say goodbye to Sgt. Billy Randolph. The 29-year police veteran died in the line of duty earlier this week.
The husband and father of two was working a fiery 18-wheeler crash along Interstate 35W when he was struck and killed by a wrong-way driver.
Evans was that driver.
Dig deeper:
According to an affidavit, Evans had consumed 10 shots of liquor before the crash. She allegedly continued to drive for more than a quarter of a mile before trying to run away from the scene.
She was also on probation after pleading guilty earlier that year to an armed assault case involving a romantic partner. As part of her probation conditions, Evans was prohibited from using, possessing or consuming any alcohol.
Woman accused of killing Fort Worth police officer while driving drunk was on probation
A 25-year-old woman who police say was drunk when she hit and killed Fort Worth Police Sergeant Billy Randolph was on probation at the time of the crash.
The Source: The information in this story comes from court records, the Fort Worth Police Department, an arrest warrant affidavit, and past news coverage.