HOUSTON – The family of Esoterica Spivey, a mother of two who lost her life during a high-speed police chase that ended in a crash, is speaking out.
They are not only reflecting on her loving spirit but also calling for accountability from both the man authorities say caused the crash and the officials involved in the pursuit.
Spivey’s mother, Deborah Davenport, recalls a strong sense of foreboding on the day of the crash.
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“All day long that day, I was praying for her,” she shared, adding that Esoterica was a woman of strong faith, devoted to her family and music. “She loved her children, she loved her mom. She looked at me as some type of star.”
Esoterica Spivey, a 40-year-old hairstylist, was killed on Wednesday evening in a crash that involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Houston Police Department (HPD), Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), and Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office. They had been pursuing Sebastian Sanchez, 25, who authorities say was driving a stolen vehicle and refused to stop.
During the chase, Sanchez allegedly crossed a median and drove southbound in the northbound lanes on the 59 service road, ultimately colliding with the vehicle Spivey and her fiancé were in. Her family is still in disbelief.
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“It was something I never could imagine. To think my child would leave here like that, with a broken back,” Davenport said.
Spivey’s sister, Cory Spivey, encountered Sanchez at the hospital after the crash.
“They were escorting him out, and I got a chance to see his face. He was blank. He didn’t look like he wanted to say sorry,” she recalled.
Now, the family is demanding accountability—not only for Sanchez, who has been charged with murder—but also for the law enforcement officers involved in the chase.
“For whatever reason they wanted to pull him over, they had their reasons. What I will say is that people’s lives were in danger,” Davenport said.
KPRC 2 reached out to the agencies involved for clarity on their chase policies but has yet to receive a response. A Freedom of Information Act request has been submitted, but it may take up to two months for further details.
The family plans to honor Esoterica Spivey’s memory with a balloon release on Oct. 20 and a dove release at her funeral on Oct 26.
Chase policies for local law enforcement
We’ve reached out to all the local law enforcement agencies involved in the pursuit.
On October 15, we heard back from Humble, which does allow pursuits.
“In balancing the need to use motor vehicle pursuits as a tool of crime control and deterrence against society’s compelling interest to remain safe against the inherent dangers of such pursuits, it shall be the policy of the Humble Police Department that officers will initiate or continue motor vehicle pursuits when a suspected criminal fails to stop upon receiving proper notice to do so and when justified by the illegal flight of a law violator. Officers may pursue providing that the pursuit can be conducted within the acceptable parameters of this policy, and then only when the pursuit will be executed with caution so as not to create extreme or unreasonable danger for either the general public or the involved police officers. It is the responsibility of the Department to assist officers in the safe performance of their duties. Officers should not unduly endanger nor show indifference to the safety of the public, themselves, or other employees. Every endeavor should be made by the officer to keep the hazards of the situation to a minimum.”
Here’s their policy document:
