Man charged with murder in missing woman’s death following autopsy

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - A man originally charged in Alabama with abuse of a corpse has now been charged with murder following recent autopsy results.

Karen DeAnn Hollis, 23, was reported missing on May 8 in Northport, according to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Days later, friends and family found her body on May 16, along Interstate 20 in Greene County.

Officials said they could only see Hollis’ feet because the rest of her body was covered in a large black garbage bag.

The department’s violent crime unit arrested Randall Lendell Dejourney, a previously identified person of interest, on May 17 and charged him with abuse of a corpse.

The sheriff’s office held a news conference on Tuesday. It was revealed that Dejourney’s charge was upgraded to murder after results from Hollis’ autopsy ruled that her cause of death was suffocation and classified as a homicide.

According to Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jack Kennedy, the autopsy was completed Tuesday morning. Investigators believe Hollis died very early on the morning of May 8.

Kennedy said authorities believe the two were acquaintances because Hollis lived at the same apartment complex as one of Dejourney’s friends.

According to Kennedy, authorities found Hollis’ phone before she was reported missing, prompting a report to be filed. The phone was discovered about 10 to 12 miles away from where her body was found along I-20.

Kennedy also said investigators had a large amount of electronic data, tracking the phone’s movement from Northport to Greene County and other locations.

Authorities reportedly searched throughout the week, conducting drone and K-9 searches. Kennedy said it was difficult to see her body driving by because it was in tall grass. However, it was “hastily discarded” only feet from the road.

Kennedy said the investigation is still ongoing, but at this time there are no other suspects. He said if any are identified, authorities will pursue those leads.

Due to the upgraded charge and Aniah’s Law, Dejourney will be held without bond in the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

There is a GoFundMe set up to help support funeral costs for Hollis.