Fort Worth police work to identify women seen with man in Deep Ellum the night before his death

FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth police are investigating after finding a man dead in his apartment last month.

They are now asking for help in identifying two women caught on camera with him in Deep Ellum the night before Devin Danford’s death.

Police wouldn’t say why they want to identify them or if they believe the two have any involvement in Danford’s death.

Meanwhile, the man’s family believes someone murdered him. They want two women to come forward and share what they know.

Detectives said 26-year-old Danford was in the Deep Ellum area the night of Saturday, August 26.

One of the two women went with Danford back to his Fort Worth apartment that night.

The next morning, police said Danford was found unresponsive in his apartment, and the woman was nowhere to be found.

"All we know is at one point they were both with him that night, and there’s a possibility that one came home to his apartment that night. So that’s why we’re trying to identify both of them and get their side of the story," said Fort Worth Officer Daniel Segura.

Police are not yet elaborating on Danford’s death while the cause remains under investigation.

Police say a necklace is among several items missing from Danford’s apartment. He’s seen wearing it in a photo posted on his social media accounts, and police say he had it on at the nightclub in Deep Ellum. 

"These are all pieces to the puzzle. We don’t know what happened to that necklace or any of the other items, but they’re trying to piece it all together to find out exactly what happened the night before," Segura said.

Danford’s mother says she is still in shock over the loss of her son, as are hundreds of people who knew how special he was.

"Devin touched so many people and was always so inspiring.  As far as who he was, he just always wanted to help others become better," she said. "He was passionate about what he did. He worked hard, loved hard and did everything he could to celebrate his friends and family. He will forever be missed."

Danford’s mother says after graduating from Keller ISD’s Fossil Ridge High School, he attended Midwestern State University and at one point played on the football team. 

"We’re supposed to be still celebrating with him through his work, but we’re having to grief through the process," said his uncle, Leeroy Danford. 

Leeroy says he texted his nephew the night before he was found dead but didn’t hear back. 

"I just said, ‘I’ll just let him call me whenever he gets the message after he gets done doing whatever he’s doing.’ And no call." 

Since items were missing from his apartment, Leeroy says that’s why he doesn’t think his nephew’s death was an accident. 

"That everything became stolen, and he’s dead? I don’t think that’s an accident," he said.

Danford’s mother is now hopeful police will identify the two women in the video and ultimately shed light on her son’s sudden death. 

 "As far as we know, they are the last two people that were seen with," Segura said.

The medical examiner has not released a cause of death.

Fort Worth police would not say what suspicions they have about Danford’s death and also wouldn’t say if the two women in the video are involved in any way.

Danford’s neighbor spoke to FOX 4 off-camera and said he didn’t recognize the two women. He said Danford was always friendly and well-liked in the apartment complex. 

Anyone with information on these women or Danford’s death is asked to contact Fort Worth police.