A 25-year-old man from Illinois has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the brutal murder of his pregnant girlfriend and her unborn child. Deundrea S. Holloway was ordered by Madison County Circuit Court Associate Judge Neil Schroeder to serve his sentence in a state correctional facility for the 2022 killing of 22-year-old Liese A. Dodd.
Holloway had previously admitted to charges of first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, and concealment of a homicidal death. His sentence comprises 30 years for the murder, 20 years for the homicide, and 10 years for concealment, to be served consecutively.
The sentencing concludes a lengthy legal process involving Holloway, who spent several months in a state institution after being deemed mentally unfit to stand trial. This decision was made following an evaluation requested by his defense attorney.
The case was further complicated by a ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court. The court determined that the killing of a mother and her unborn child cannot be considered multiple murders when seeking a life sentence.
Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine expressed hope that the conviction and sentence would provide some solace to Dodd’s family and loved ones. He acknowledged the case’s difficulty and the trauma it caused for Dodd’s family, praising their strength, courage, and resilience throughout the process.
In June 2022, officers from the Alton Police Department responded to a 911 call at a residence on Bolivar Street, where they discovered Dodd’s decapitated body. Her head was later found in a garbage bin outside her apartment building.
Former Alton Police Chief Marcus Pulido described the crime as “absolutely terrible,” and “beyond reprehensible.” He revealed that Holloway and Dodd had been in an on-and-off relationship for about two years prior to her murder.
Holloway is required to serve at least 52 years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.