When family members had not heard from Allen Phillips for several days, it was unusual enough to cause alarm. The 68-year-old White man’s son grew worried after his father, who lived in Milton, Florida, stopped answering his calls. According to Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson, the son then began calling his father’s wife, 48-year-old Tequila Phillips, who was evasive about her husband’s whereabouts.
The family's concern prompted them to request that law enforcement check on Allen’s well-being.
On Friday, January 24, 2025, deputies from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to the welfare check at Allen Phillips's residence on Trinity Church Road. When no one answered the door, deputies forced their way inside. There, they made a grim discovery. Allen was found deceased inside the home, and his body was in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating he had been dead for several days.
An investigation began immediately. Authorities determined that Allen had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. Evidence collected from the scene included a firearm and a shell casing. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office quickly identified Allen’s wife, Tequila Phillips, as a suspect in his death.
Investigators tracked Tequila Phillips to Wetumpka, Alabama, where she was located and taken into custody by the Wetumpka Police Department. As of late January 2025, she was awaiting extradition hearings to be returned to Santa Rosa County to face charges in connection with her husband’s homicide. The investigation by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office remains active.
