The body of a missing Washington, D.C., woman was found concealed within a Capitol Heights home over the weekend. Authorities have charged the homeowner, who shares a child with the victim, in connection with her death.
During a press conference on Tuesday, officials revealed evidence suggesting the relationship between 29-year-old Alexis Schuler and 30-year-old Devontae Gray was tumultuous. Capitol Heights Police Chief Darryl Morgan disclosed that officers had responded to Gray’s Larchmont Avenue home multiple times over the past eight months, though no arrests were made during those incidents.
The latest police interaction occurred on January 9, when Gray called authorities on Schuler. He had also sought protective orders against her, but none were granted, noted Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy, highlighting the typically low threshold for obtaining such orders.
Schuler was last seen on January 10, and investigators believe she was fatally shot on January 11. According to charging documents, Gray reportedly told another woman, with whom he also shares a child, that he might be going to jail on the same day.
Schuler’s family filed a missing person report in D.C. on January 14. Officers visiting Gray’s residence noticed a strong odor, initially attributed to poor living conditions. However, a follow-up search with a warrant on January 18 revealed the grim discovery.
Inside the home, authorities uncovered Schuler’s remains concealed within a newly constructed wall beneath a stairwell. Her body was placed in a plastic bin filled with soil and hay, sealed in concrete, and hidden behind a false brick wall. It took officials three hours to retrieve her remains.
Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz described the effort to conceal the body as extensive, involving significant alterations to the residence. Photos of the fake wall highlighted the lengths taken to hide the crime.
Gray eventually confessed to shooting Schuler two to three times.
“This tragic incident underscores the dangers of domestic violence,” Braveboy said. “A young mother of three has lost her life, leaving her children without their mother’s love and presence.”
Relatives of Schuler issued a statement expressing heartbreak and urging awareness of domestic violence. Derrick Felder, her cousin, emphasized, “This is not what love looks like. If you are experiencing domestic violence, take action to protect yourself.”
Gray now faces charges including first- and second-degree murder and firearm-related offenses. His attorneys waived a bond hearing, and he will remain in custody as prosecutors prepare to present the case to a grand jury.
“There is no justification for this homicide,” Aziz said. “We are committed to ensuring justice is served for Alexis Schuler and her family.
