Investigators say additional criminal charges could follow pending autopsy results.
NORTHPORT, Ala. — Authorities in west Alabama say a missing 23-year-old woman was found dead after an eight-day search that ended in Greene County, where investigators recovered her remains and arrested a 44-year-old man now facing charges connected to the case.
Karen Deann Hollis disappeared May 8 after leaving Northport late at night, prompting an intensive search involving family members, local law enforcement agencies and volunteers. Investigators said evidence gathered during the case pointed to foul play early in the inquiry. Randall Lendell Dejourney was arrested after Hollis’ body was located and charged with abuse of a corpse, though officials indicated more serious charges could be filed once medical examiners complete an autopsy and determine the official cause and manner of death.
According to investigators, Hollis was last seen shortly before midnight on May 8. Family members reported growing concern after she stopped responding to messages and failed to return home. Authorities later said Hollis suffered from a condition that could impair her judgment, leading the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to issue a missing and endangered person alert during the search effort. Friends, relatives and volunteers spent days searching wooded areas, roadsides and nearby communities while deputies followed digital records, witness statements and electronic evidence gathered during the investigation.
Investigators with the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said multiple search warrants were executed over the course of the inquiry. Officials said detectives gathered physical evidence, interviewed witnesses and identified a person of interest before Hollis’ remains were discovered. Law enforcement agencies from Tuscaloosa and Greene counties assisted in the recovery operation after search teams narrowed their focus to a rural area in Greene County. Authorities have not publicly detailed where or how Hollis’ body was found, and investigators have declined to release additional information they say could compromise the ongoing case.
The case drew widespread attention across west Alabama as family members shared photos and appeals for information online throughout the weeklong search. Hollis’ disappearance sparked concern among residents in Northport and neighboring communities, where volunteers organized searches and distributed missing-person flyers. Investigators said the discovery of electronic evidence helped direct the inquiry during the final stages of the search. Officials have not publicly discussed a possible motive or clarified the exact relationship between Hollis and Dejourney.
Dejourney was booked into the county jail after his arrest and remained held on a cash bond as of this week. Court records showed he was initially charged with abuse of a corpse, though investigators stressed that the case remains active and evolving. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences is expected to complete an autopsy that could determine whether prosecutors pursue upgraded charges, including homicide-related counts. Detectives said additional evidence continues to be reviewed and more interviews are planned as the investigation moves forward.
Friends and relatives gathered in the days after the discovery to mourn Hollis and remember her personality and close family ties. Some described the search as emotionally exhausting after days of uncertainty. Hollis’ sister wrote online that the loss left “a piece of me gone,” while others shared photographs and memories from family gatherings and fishing trips. Investigators acknowledged the emotional toll on relatives during public statements and thanked volunteers who helped search throughout the region.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing while forensic testing and interviews continue. Officials expect additional updates after the medical examiner’s findings are completed and prosecutors review the evidence collected during the case.
Author note: Last updated May 23, 2026.