Court Docs Reveal History Of Domestic Violence For Suspect Charged In Karen Hollis Case

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Court records show the man charged this weekend after the body of a missing Northport woman was found in Greene County has an extensive history of prior offenses involving domestic violence against women.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

As Patch previously reported, Randall Lendell Dejourney, 44, was charged Saturday with abuse of a corpse after the body of Karen Deann Hollis was discovered in Greene County by family members and friends searching an area identified through electronic evidence.

Hollis was first reported missing in the area of 43rd Avenue at Georgetown Apartments in Northport on May 8, with early investigative findings leading authorities to suspect foul play.

Court documents obtained by Patch show Dejourney was also arrested in Tuscaloosa County on Jan. 21 after authorities in Escambia County, Florida, sought his extradition on a felony charge of battery by strangulation.

According to the fugitive warrant filed in Tuscaloosa County District Court, Florida authorities alleged Dejourney “has been charged in [Florida] with the commission of the crime” and had fled from justice before being located in Tuscaloosa County.

Additional records from Escambia County state the allegation stemmed from an Oct. 6, 2024 domestic violence incident in Pensacola, Florida.

Investigators were told by the victim that Dejourney committed battery strangulation against her after they had been living together for the last eight years.

Court documents obtained by Patch said the alleged victim told deputies the incident began after Dejourney attempted to have sex with her while she was sleeping.

When she refused, she said Dejourney climbed on top of her, wrapped his arm around her neck and pushed her face into his chest until she could not breathe and lost consciousness.

The report went on to say the woman suffered a cut to her upper lip and red marks on her neck consistent with strangulation.

Tuscaloosa County court records show Dejourney waived extradition proceedings and agreed to be returned to Florida on that charge.

Separate Baldwin County court filings reviewed by Patch show the woman later sought a protection-from-abuse order against Dejourney in February 2025.

In the petition, she claimed Dejourney “put one arm over my mouth and nose, and the other arm around my neck and started squeezing till I started blacking out.”

The filing also alleged the woman's child interrupted the attack.

“I felt my son touch my head and my son said he touched Randall and that’s when he released me, when he knew my son was up,” the woman's written statement said.

The woman then filled out a domestic violence questionnaire and listed the following risk factors:

• Gun present or accessible to suspect.
• Suspect has said, "If I can't have you, no one can."
• Suspect attempts to control partner's daily activities.
• Suspect is violent toward children.
• Recent or threatened separation.
• Increase in frequency or severity of violence.
• Suspect abuses alcohol.
• Suspect threatens to kill the victim.

Court records also show Dejourney was later charged in Baldwin County with violating the domestic violence protection order after contacting the same woman through Facebook Messenger despite being ordered to have no contact with her.

The case was ultimately withdrawn for want of prosecution due to lack of service.

Patch also uncovered older Tuscaloosa County records from 2015 showing Dejourney was charged with felony third-degree domestic violence harassment.

This complaint alleged he assaulted a woman by “attacking [her] causing injury to her right finger” and noted two prior domestic violence harassment convictions in Tuscaloosa County from 2002 and 2004.

Dejourney remains in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on a $15,000 cash bond in connection with the abuse of a corpse charge.

Investigators have said additional charges are possible pending the outcome of an autopsy to determine Hollis' cause of death.

Patch reported on Sunday that a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family of Karen Hollis cover funeral and memorial expenses after she was found dead Saturday in Greene County.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com