Houston, TX — On Thursday, a jury sentenced 51 year old Yoland Washington to 75 years in prison for the murder of Deundrea Ford.
Ford, a 21 year old mother, was last seen in Houston, Texas on September 22, 2023. She disappeared after leaving her workplace with an unidentified male in the 11900 block of East Freeway.
In January 2024, 51 year old Yoland Washington was charged with murder in connection with Deundrea’s disappearance. Investigators identified Ford as the unknown male Ford left with on the night she disappeared through credit card transactions and surveillance video.
On September 18, 2024, the remains of Deundrea Ford were found by workers in Dallas, Texas. Positive identification was made by the medical examiner on September 25.
The Disappearance of Deundrea Ford
Deundrea Ford was born on October 24, 2001. She has a four year old son.
At the time of her disappearance, Deundrea had been working as a dancer at Diva’s Bikini Sports Bar & Grill in east Houston for two weeks.
Disappearance
On September 21, 2023, a relative dropped Deundrea Ford off at the bikini bar she worked at in the 11900 block of East Freeway in Houston. She later told her ride home that she would be picked up by someone else.
She was last seen leaving the bar and getting into a white van with an unknown male in the early morning hours.
Deundrea hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Her family reported her missing to the Houston Police Department when they couldn’t contact her.
Investigation
One of Deundrea’s friends missed a call from her around 2 am on September 22, 2023. Deundrea’s phone was turned off shortly after, with calls going straight to voicemail.
Surveillance video from the bar shows Deundrea leaving with an unknown male and getting into a white GMC Savana van in the parking lot between 1 – 2am. They sat in the van for a little over an hour before driving off; whether she left with him willingly remains unknown.
According to Ford’s uncle, the unidentified male was seen buying her drinks earlier that evening, and interacting with other women inside the bar who seemed like they knew him.
Police in another state detained a suspect in her disappearance, but he was later released. His identity remains unknown.
Her family says it’s uncharacteristic of her to disappear, and they immediately knew something was wrong when she failed to contact her four year old son
In October 2023 it was revealed that Deundrea is a witness in a capital murder case, with court documents showing she was present in a car when 35 year old Otis Parker was shot and killed on May 18, 2023.
All four defendants in the capital murder case were given a no-contact order to stay away from Deundrea in June. One of them was shot and killed by police on July 12 while he was being served a murder warrant. The other three remain incarcerated without bond.
At this time it is unclear whether the shooting is connected to Deundrea’s disappearance, although there were documented threats against her life filed by at least one of the defendants.
The investigation into Ford’s disappearance remains “open and active pending further investigation,” according to a Houston Police Department spokesperson.
Arrest Made in Connection with Ford’s Disappearance
In January 2024, 51 year old Yoland Washington was charged with murder in connection with Deundrea’s disappearance.
Investigators have identified Ford as the unknown male Ford left with on the night she disappeared. Her body has not been found.
Washington is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail.
Body of Deundrea Ford Found
On September 18, 2024, the remains of Deundrea Ford were found by workers in Dallas, Texas. Positive identification was made by the medical examiner on September 25. Her cause of death has not been released.
Yoland Washington has been charged with murder in her case, and remains in custody at the Dallas County Jail on a $1.1 million bond.
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