Decades in Prison for Illinois Man Who Decapitated Pregnant Girlfriend

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An Illinois man has been sentenced to 60 years behind bars for the brutal murder of his pregnant girlfriend, a crime that shocked the community with its savagery. Deundrea Holloway, 25, received his sentence after pleading guilty to the gruesome killing of 22-year-old Liese Dodd, who was nearly eight months pregnant. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentencing in a press release earlier this week.  

 

Liese Dodd, described by loved ones as loving and spirited, was discovered dead in her Alton apartment on June 9, 2022. Her mother, Heidi Noel, went to check on her after not hearing from her daughter, only to make the horrifying discovery of her headless body inside the apartment. Police responding to the scene later found Dodd’s head discarded in a dumpster outside the building.  

 

“She was savagely, savagely killed,” former Alton Police Chief Marcus Pulido said, reflecting the community’s outrage and grief. “She was decapitated. Decapitated by a freaking savage monster. Her unborn child was also killed as a result of this. This daughter, this mother-to-be, and her family were in the planning stages of a baby shower that was supposed to be at the end of June.”  

 

Holloway, who had been in an on-and-off relationship with Dodd for about two years, was not the father of her unborn child. He was quickly apprehended following the murder and later pleaded guilty to charges including first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, and concealment of a homicidal death.  

 

At the sentencing hearing, Dodd’s mother expressed the profound loss her family continues to endure. “On that night, I received a life sentence,” she said, as reported by First Alert 4. “To live the remainder of my life without my beautiful, loving, sassy daughter. A life without knowing the joy of watching Liese raise my granddaughter.”  

 

The trial and sentencing brought an end to over a year of legal delays, allowing Dodd’s family some closure. Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine emphasized the importance of sparing the family the added trauma of a trial. “This guilty conviction ends that,” Haine stated. “Our hope is that this conviction and sentence provide the family and loved ones some assurance and will be a step toward healing.” He commended the family’s strength throughout the ordeal, calling their courage remarkable.

 

Community support has been vital for Dodd’s family. A GoFundMe campaign raised nearly $16,000, covering funeral expenses and enabling donations to local organizations, including $5,000 to the Oasis Women’s Center-Alton and $2,000 to the Riverbend Humane Society.  

 

Holloway will serve a minimum of 52 years before being eligible for release, but officials believe it is unlikely he will ever be freed. “It is unlikely he will ever see the light of day,” Haine said, reflecting the severity of the sentence.  

 

For the family and community, the conviction marks a significant step toward healing, though the scars of this horrific crime will remain. Liese Dodd’s memory lives on as her family and friends honor her life and advocate for support for victims of domestic violence.  

 

Based on a report by Sky News 2025-01-23