MD mom says she warned daughter about boyfriend, now accused in her murder: 'I don’t trust him’

The mother of a D.C. woman whose body was found in what authorities describe as a makeshift tomb says she saw signs her daughter’s boyfriend was responsible for her murder.

Tiwana Schuler, the mother of 29-year-old Alexis Schuler, last saw her daughter on Jan. 10. Schuler said she was at her daughter’s home that day to help her move and watch her three children. Her daughter eventually left the home with 30-year-old Devontae Gray, who she shares a child with.

"She left out her back door. We always say, ‘I love you. Bye’. I told her, I said ‘Alexis, I don’t trust him’, because he lost custody of the oldest son and had to pay all of this backup child support money. I said, ‘most men don’t like that.’ I told her to be careful," Schuler recalled.

Schuler said not long after she last saw her daughter, Gray called her asking she had heard from Alexis.

"I said, ‘the last time I saw her, she got into your truck and left with you.’ He said, ‘Yeah, but she called an Uber from my house.’ He tried to say that, always tried to put everyone in different circles. She went with this person, that person, this person," Schuler recalled.

Image 1 of 2

 

She told FOX 5 Tuesday, that conversation led her to believe something happened to her daughter. When she was unable to get a hold of her, she called police on Jan. 14 and reported her missing.

According to court documents, Capitol Heights police responded to Gray’s home on Larchmont Avenue in response to the welfare call and made contact with Gray.

"They (officers) advised that as they entered the residence, they smelled "weird" odor. Seeing that the residence was in "dirty" condition, they ultimately believed the smell may have just been from dirt and cleared the call," the court documents state.

The court documents go on to state a residential search and seizure warrant was issued for the Capitol Heights home on January 19, when they found a semi-automatic handgun, fresh drywall, acetone, lemon ammonia, and other construction and cleaning materials inside the duplex.

READ MORE: Maryland man killed girlfriend, hid body in ‘makeshift tomb’: police

"After removing the drywall, makeshift tomb was discovered under the stairs. There was large plastic bin, wrapped in plastic wrapping, behind large amount of concrete that was poured by the Defendant. After pouring the concrete around the plastic bin, the drywall was placed and faux brick was then placed on the drywall. PGFD assisted with the demolition of the concrete and removing the bin. The bin was opened and inside human foot was visible, believed to belong to the Decedent," the document states. "She was located under large amount of soil and hay."

The court documents also state Gray admitted to getting into an argument with Schuler and shot her "two or three times" before trying to conceal her body.

Derrick Felder, Schuler’s cousin, thanked the community Tuesday for the search efforts and support.

"We want to take this moment to shed light on the reality of domestic violence. Alexis’s story is a painful reminder that this is not what love looks like. Someone who truly loves you will never do what Devontae Gray did to her. Please take domestic violence seriously if you are going through this and know it is a call to wake up. Seek help and prioritize your safety above all," Felder said. "To the community, we urge you to pay attention when you see missing flyers. These are real people with real families who love them. Your vigilance can save lives and bring much needed closure to families."

Schuler’s mother said her daughter never indicated she was in fear for her life or that there was physical abuse in the relationship but she said suspected verbal abuse. She told FOX 5, Gray previously filed protective orders against her daughter without cause. Prosecutors confirmed Tuesday, those orders were not granted due to lack of basis.

According to court documents, Capitol Heights police advised there was a history of domestic violence calls originating from the Larchmont Avenue home.

"The most recent domestic call was from January 9, 2025. This call was placed by the Defendant who advised that he was having domestic with the Decedent. The Defendant then informed the call taker that he had gun and that if the Decedent entered the home, there was going to be problems," the document states.

It also goes on to state, the mother of Gray’s other children called Capitol Heights police and told them "on January 11, 2025, when the Defendant dropped his kid off to her, he stated that he was ‘going to jail’ but would not elaborate further."

On Tuesday, Gray waived his right to a bond hearing which was initially set for 1:15 p.m.

"In the interest of due process, everyone has a right to that. What we believe and what we know to be the facts as we know is we believe him to have committed this homicide and tried to conceal it and, as you heard, confessing to it," Prince George’s County police chief Malik Aziz said. "Whatever the reasons may be, in my opinion as the Chief of Police for 35 years on this job, there is no justification for your homicide of this person in this house. Simple as that."

Tiwana Schuler said right now, her priority is taking care of her three grandchildren for Alexis.

NewsWashington, D.C.Crime and Public Safety