A manhunt is underway across Virginia for a former state correctional officer who allegedly shot and killed two VDOT contractors, one of whom was her former inmate boyfriend, in a brazen early morning attack that authorities have confirmed was domestic-related. The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Denika Rachelle Boyce, a mother of five, has been on the run for over a week following the July 24th, 2026, double homicide in Chesterfield County. State police have released new images of Boyce and are pleading with the public for any information leading to her capture, warning that she should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.
The shooting occurred just before 9:30 a. m. at a Virginia Department of Transportation equipment staging area near the intersection of Route 1 and Route 288.
This location is where contracted workers gather each morning to receive their assignments and pick up vehicles before heading out for interstate maintenance. Police responded to reports of gunfire and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim, later identified as 30-year-old Rashaun Eugene DeLorge of Woodbridge, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The second victim, 34-year-old Philip Avery Wilson, was rushed to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators have confirmed that Boyce knew at least one of the victims, and sources close to the case have revealed a deeply troubling backstory. Boyce was employed as a correctional officer at Greensville Correctional Center in Greensville County, Virginia, a medium-to-high security state prison. It was there that she allegedly began a romantic relationship with DeLorge, who was serving time on a series of felony charges including a reduced sentence for a 2021 second-degree murder case.
The Virginia Department of Corrections has confirmed that Boyce was separated from her employment effective August 16th, 2025, though they have not disclosed the specific reasons for her termination.
Court records paint a disturbing picture of DeLorge’s criminal history. He had been arrested more than five times in the previous three years, with charges ranging from grand larceny for a stolen purse in 2019 to a 2021 incident in Fredericksburg where he allegedly fired multiple shots at a man standing in front of a restaurant. In that case, a bullet went through a store window, though no one was physically injured.
DeLorge was arrested in South Carolina and initially charged with attempted second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and shooting into an occupied dwelling. However, in a June 2022 plea deal, those serious charges were dropped entirely. He pleaded guilty to reduced charges of felony destruction of property, brandishing a firearm, and reckless handling of a firearm, receiving time served and parole.
This plea deal meant DeLorge was released from custody in late 2024 or early 2025, having served only a few years behind bars. It was during his incarceration at Greensville that the relationship with Boyce allegedly blossomed. Sources indicate that Boyce risked her career and her livelihood for this man, and when she was fired from the Department of Corrections in August 2025, she believed her relationship with DeLorge was a primary factor.
The timeline is critical: Boyce lost her job, and within months, DeLorge was a free man. Friends and family of Boyce described her on social media as a sweet, loving person who was devoted to her five children. But those close to the situation say she felt betrayed, that she had put everything on the line for a man who then took her love for granted.
On the morning of the shooting, witnesses reported a chaotic and terrifying scene. According to police accounts, Boyce followed DeLorge and Wilson to the VDOT staging area. As the two men were walking through the gate to begin their workday, Boyce began yelling for DeLorge to come to her.
Wilson, who was DeLorge’s friend and coworker, attempted to intervene, telling DeLorge to keep walking and not engage. Witnesses say Boyce then shouted at Wilson, allegedly telling him to get out of her way or he would be shot too. She then opened fire, striking both men.
Wilson was trying to protect his friend, and he paid for it with his life.
The Virginia State Police have taken the lead on the manhunt, working in close coordination with local law enforcement in Chesterfield County, the Chesterfield County Police Department, and federal partners including the FBI and U. S. Marshals Service.
VSP officials have stated that no lead is too small and no tip is being ignored. They have established a dedicated tip line and are urging anyone with information to come forward immediately. The safety of the community is their paramount concern, and they have repeatedly warned the public not to approach Boyce if she is spotted, but to call 911 immediately.
Senator Mike Jones released a statement in the aftermath of the shooting, expressing his condolences to the families of the victims and condemning the violence. He said, “No one discharging their duties at work should be in fear for their lives.” The statement reflects the shock and grief felt across the community, as two men who were simply going to work to maintain the state’s highways were gunned down in a senseless act of violence.
The VDOT staging area, usually a place of routine and preparation for the day’s work, has become a crime scene and a symbol of a tragedy that has left two families shattered.
The victims are being remembered by their loved ones as good men with bright futures. Philip Wilson was a father, and the last photo he posted on social media was of him and his young son looking up at the sky. A family friend and pastor who spoke about Wilson described him as a genuinely good guy who changed the message of an entire sermon because of his kindness and impact on those around him.
Rashaun DeLorge, despite his troubled past, was also a son, a friend, and a father. His social media accounts showed a man grappling with his circumstances, posting about the heat and the difficulty of life, but also sharing quotes about love and heart from figures like Mike Tyson.
The case has sparked a wider conversation about the dangers of relationships that cross professional boundaries, particularly within the corrections system. The relationship between a correctional officer and an inmate is strictly prohibited, and when it is discovered, it often results in immediate termination and potential criminal charges for the officer. Boyce’s alleged relationship with DeLorge cost her the job she had held for years, a job that provided for her five children.
The emotional and psychological toll of that loss, combined with the feeling of being used and discarded by the man she risked everything for, is being cited by those who know her as a possible motive for the violence.
As the manhunt enters its second week, the question on everyone’s mind is where Denika Boyce could be. She has no confirmed sightings, no trace of her vehicle, and no known pattern of behavior that would give investigators a clear direction. She has five children who are now without their mother, and the families of the victims are left to grieve loved ones they will never get back.
There is also the haunting possibility that Boyce may have harmed herself, or that she has gone to ground with the help of someone who is harboring her. Law enforcement is not ruling out any scenario.
The investigation is moving quickly, but the key piece of the puzzle remains the community. VSP has stated that the feedback and tips they are receiving from the public are helping them move forward, but they need more. They are asking everyone to look at the new images of Boyce, to share them on social media, and to report anything that seems out of place.
The urgency is palpable, as every day that passes without an arrest increases the risk to the public and decreases the likelihood of a swift resolution.
This is a story of love, betrayal, and devastating consequences. A woman who was once a guardian of the law, entrusted with the safety of the public and the custody of inmates, is now the subject of a massive manhunt for allegedly taking two lives. She lost her career, her reputation, and potentially her freedom, all for a relationship that ended in bloodshed.
The families of Rashaun DeLorge and Philip Wilson are left to pick up the pieces, to bury their loved ones, and to seek justice. The community is left to wonder how such a tragedy could have unfolded in a place where people were simply starting their workday.
The Virginia State Police are urging anyone with information about the whereabouts of Denika Rachelle Boyce to contact them immediately. They have established a dedicated tip line and are offering a reward for information leading to her arrest. The public is advised not to approach her, as she is considered armed and dangerous.
The search continues, and the hope is that justice will be served for the two men who lost their lives, and for the families who are now left to mourn them. The case remains active and ongoing, and updates will be provided as they become available.
