A 25-year-old man from Illinois has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the brutal killing of his pregnant girlfriend, Liese A. Dodd, in 2022. The crime, which involved decapitating Dodd and discarding her head in a dumpster, shocked the community. Dodd, who was eight months pregnant at the time, was found dead inside her home by her mother, who had gone to check on her daughter. Her head was later recovered from a garbage bin near the apartment building.
Deundrea S. Holloway, the perpetrator, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, and concealment of a homicidal death. He was sentenced to 30 years for the murder of Dodd, 20 years for the homicide of her unborn child, and 10 years for the concealment of the body. These sentences are to be served consecutively, totaling 60 years in prison. Holloway will be required to serve at least 52 years before becoming eligible for parole.
The case had been delayed for months due to Holloway’s mental fitness evaluations, which initially deemed him unfit to stand trial. However, following a decision by the Illinois Supreme Court, which ruled that the killing of both the mother and her unborn child could not be considered multiple murders for the purpose of seeking a life sentence, the case proceeded. Despite these legal complexities, the guilty plea and subsequent sentencing brought some closure to Dodd’s family and loved ones, sparing them the trauma of a trial.
The crime itself was described as particularly horrific by local authorities. Alton Police Chief Marcus Pulido called it “absolutely terrible” and “beyond reprehensible.” Holloway and Dodd had been in an on-and-off relationship for about two years before the murder. The tragedy occurred just weeks before Dodd was due to celebrate a baby shower for her unborn child.
Dodd’s family, devastated by the loss, expressed their hope that the conviction would bring some sense of justice and healing. Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine praised the family’s strength and resilience throughout the difficult process, emphasizing that the resolution of the case would help them move forward.
The murder of Dodd and her unborn child left a deep scar on the community, with many struggling to comprehend the brutality of the act. Holloway’s sentence ensures that he will spend decades behind bars for the heinous crime, though it does little to ease the pain felt by Dodd’s family and friends.
