Contessa Holloman sentenced for homicide in the overdose death of three-year-old child

On July 26, 2024, Contessa Holloman appeared before the Honorable Judge Hoffman in the Newport News Circuit Court for sentencing on one count of Felony Homicide, one count of Possession of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance, and two counts of Child Abuse and Neglect. She faced a possible maximum sentence of sixty-five years incarceration. This sentencing followed a bench trial on February 27, 2024 at which the court found Holloman guilty of Felony Homicide, Possession of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance, and two counts of Child Abuse and Neglect.

On May 30, 2022, Alexandria Hudson arranged for her three-year old daughter, A.H., to spend the night with Contessa Holloman and her seven-year-old daughter, R.H.. At around 1:00 AM on May 31, 2022, Holloman unexpectedly returned A.H. to her mother. A.H. was limp and unresponsive. Hudson immediately called 911 in an attempt to help her daughter, and despite the best efforts of emergency services, A.H. was pronounced deceased at approximately 2:00 AM. An autopsy ruled the death a homicide with the cause of death being an acute combined heroin, fentanyl, and tramadol overdose.

Initially Holloman denied noticing anything wrong with A.H. prior to dropping her off with her mother. She further denied A.H. had consumed anything. But when police searched Holloman’s home and vehicle, Holloman had heroin, fentanyl, tramadol, and cocaine. The search warrant executed on Holloman’s home also revealed that Holloman had left her own daughter, R.H., home alone for several hours with narcotics present in the home. Holloman had told law enforcement that her daughter was with her father in Portsmouth, despite knowing that armed law enforcement were about to search her home pursuant to a warrant. Holloman denied any substance use throughout law enforcement’s investigation and during the pre-trial stages of her case.

Chief Medical Examiner W. Gunther, along with several forensic technicians and law enforcement officers with the Newport News Police Department, and several experts from the Department of Forensic Science all testified at Holloman’s trial. A toxicologist with the Department of Forensic Science testified if Holloman had told medics that A.H. could be suffering from a drug overdose, they could have potentially saved her life with Narcan. Holloman took the stand in her own defense and revealed for the first time that she had used heroin and cocaine recreationally in her home about a week prior to the incident. She said she was unaware that those drugs also contained fentanyl.

“We know that drugs like heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl are major drivers of crime, and have tragic consequences not just for the drug users, but for our whole community.” Said Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn, adding “We will continue to seek just outcomes on behalf of every crime victim in Newport News, and our prayers are with the grieving family of this innocent three-year-old child.”

At the sentencing hearing,the victim’s family spoke about how A.H.’s death has impacted them. Holloman presented several character letters and witnesses to testify to her current substance abuse treatment efforts as well as her role as a mother to R.H.. Holloman testified on her own behalf and apologized directly to the Hudson family. At the conclusion of the evidence and arguments of counsel, the Court sentenced Holloman to thirty years active incarceration on the Felony Homicide charge, five years active incarceration on the Possession of Controlled Substance charge, and five years active incarceration on one of the Child Abuse charges, for a total of forty years active incarceration. Once released, she will be subject to three years of supervised probation.

This case was prosecuted on behalf of the Commonwealth’s Attorney by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Perkins and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Thompson.

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Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney
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Newport News, VA 23607

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The Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney prosecutes criminal cases that occur within the City of Newport News, on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth. The elected Commonwealth’s Attorney is Mr. Howard E. Gwynn.