India Thomas: Maryland mom gunned down on birthday trip to Houston
India Thomas had a close bond with her mother, who called her her best friend and described her as a "spoiled, cute little curly head girl with big old eyes" who had a "sassy personality."
Thomas was looking forward to traveling from Maryland to Texas and then to Miami to celebrate her 27th birthday. She touched down in Houston. She never returned.
Thomas, a mother of two small children, was shot to death along with her boyfriend in Houston, Texas, while celebrating her birthday.
According to Houston police, Thomas and her 25-year-old boyfriend, Derell Hall, were killed near the airport. Their bodies were discovered on Radio Road the day after Thomas stopped communicating with family on February 27, 2026. Hall was found about 3 a.m. on February 28, 2026, in the middle of the roadway, while Thomas was in a nearby ditch; both had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. No suspects have been publicly identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Serena Chase, Thomas’ mother, told local media that she felt that something terrible would happen on the trip.
Speaking with WJZ, Chase recounted how she had urged her daughter not to go to Texas with Hall, who frequently visited the state. "My intuition told me that my daughter should not be hanging out in Texas," Chase said. She added that she "just knew in my heart that something was wrong" after losing contact with her daughter around 11 p.m. on February 27.
The mother believes the couple may have been set up by someone they knew. "The people who did it, you know, they have to be evil," she said, vowing that her daughter's death would lead to justice. "My daughter's going to be the reason why you don't ever get a chance to do this to another person."
Houston police have not released further details on potential motives or suspects as of the latest reports. The double homicide has left a family in Baltimore devastated and searching for answers.Chase's plea for justice highlights the ongoing pain felt by families impacted by violent crime. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Houston police.
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