A woman who had been missing for more than a week has been found dead, and a man has been charged with abuse of a corpse. Karen Deann Hollis, 23, was discovered by her friends and family on Saturday, May 16, eight days after she disappeared, according to WBRC.
Disappearance and Search
Hollis was last seen around midnight on May 8 in Northport, approximately 60 miles from Birmingham. Authorities revealed that she suffered from a medical condition that could impair her judgment. Her disappearance prompted an urgent search, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued a missing and endangered person alert.
Charges Filed
Her body was found in Greene County, and Randall Lendell Dejourney, 44, has been charged with abuse of a corpse. An autopsy is scheduled, and Dejourney may face additional charges.
Last Messages
Hollis texted her boyfriend, Zackary Slaughter, that she was going to get a Reese's peanut butter cup before she vanished, which proved to be her last message. "She texted me at 11 p.m. saying she didn't feel good," Slaughter told CBS42. "I tried calling her at 4 that morning when I woke up, and then at 5 a.m. detectives were knocking on my door." He claimed that police initially considered him a suspect.
Boyfriend's Account
Slaughter said a bail bondsman had instructed him not to contact Hollis due to a previous domestic violence charge, but he claimed they had reconciled. "I was one phone call away and she never got the opportunity, and I wasn't there," he lamented.
