TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit on Tuesday upgraded an initial felony charge to murder for a man arrested in connection to the death of Karen Deann Hollis, a missing Northport woman whose body was discovered Saturday along Interstate 20/59 in Greene County.
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During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Captain Jack Kennedy, commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said a preliminary autopsy determined Hollis died from asphyxiation and ruled the manner of death a homicide.
“At this time, we have upgraded the charge on Randall Dejourney to the charge of murder,” Kennedy said. “He will be charged with murder shortly, or is now, and will be booked in shortly on that charge as well.”
As Patch previously reported, Dejourney, 44, was initially charged with abuse of a corpse after family members and friends searching for Hollis located her remains near the interstate in Greene County.
Investigators had already identified Dejourney as a suspect through electronic evidence and search warrants executed during the investigation.
Kennedy said investigators were unable to pursue a murder charge until preliminary autopsy results confirmed Hollis died by unlawful means.
“When we arrested Mr. Dejourney the other night for abuse of a corpse, we had ample evidence that he had disposed of the body and had been with the victim in the immediate timeframe before she was killed,” Kennedy said. “But, of course, to prove the murder case, we have to know how that person died.”
He went on to comment that Hollis was killed during the early morning hours of May 8 — the day she was reported missing — and remained missing for roughly eight days before her body was found.
Kennedy said investigators believe Hollis was killed inside her Northport apartment before her body was transported to Greene County and discarded along the interstate.
Kennedy then said investigators obtained electronic data from multiple phones connected to the case, including Hollis’ phone and Dejourney’s phone.
While the data helped establish travel patterns between Northport and Greene County, Kennedy said cellphone records did not provide an exact location where Hollis’ body had been discarded.
“A lot of times what you get is just a rough general area,” Kennedy said. “You may have a bubble of estimation or an area of a five-mile radius.”
Kennedy said law enforcement agencies, along with Hollis’ family and friends, searched numerous areas throughout the investigation using drones, K-9 teams and ground searches.
“It appears he apparently disposed of her body in the middle of the active interstate, which was a shocking thing for all of us,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy said Hollis’ body was located only a short distance from the roadway and concealed by tall grass.
“You would not have seen her if you had driven by in a vehicle because of the tall grass,” Kennedy said. “But actually being on foot, they were able to locate her.”
Investigators also confirmed Hollis’ body had been placed inside a trash bag before being discarded.
Kennedy described Hollis and Dejourney as acquaintances who likely knew each other through mutual contacts connected to the apartment complex where Hollis lived.
He said investigators do not currently believe the two were romantically involved.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges could still be possible depending on evidence uncovered during the continuing investigation.
Kennedy also noted a capital murder charge remains a possibility if investigators are able to establish the legal elements required under Alabama law.
“Capital [murder], of course, requires elements, and we have to prove that those elements existed,” Kennedy said. “If we can prove that, those charges will be upgraded again.”
Kennedy declined to speculate on a motive at this time.
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