Woman guilty of murder in child’s overdose death after sleep over
A Newport News Judge convicted a 27-year-old woman of felony murder, two counts of child neglect, and one count of possessing a schedule I or II controlled drug on Tuesday after a child in her care died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022.
Contessa Evon Arianna Holloman was watching a 3-year-old girl who was having a sleep over with Holloman’s child on May 31, 2022. Holloman called the child’s mother around 1 a.m. and said she needed to bring the child back because Holloman was having medical issues. Holloman returned the child but her mother was immediately concerned because the girl was limp and not responding.
The girl’s mother called 911 and attempted CPR but the child could not be revived. An autopsy determined that the girl died of an overdose from fentanyl, heroin and tramadol. Police searched Holloman’s home and found fentanyl, heroin, and tramadol in the fibers on her bed. They also small bags containing fentanyl, heroin, tramadol. The girl had been playing on that bed earlier in the evening during a video call between Holloman and the child’s mother.
When police served the search warrant at 7 a.m. at Holloman’s home, officers found Holloman’s child alone sleeping. One of the child neglect convictions was for leaving that child alone with drugs. Police were in contact with Holloman for several hours before the search warrant and she never mentioned that her child was at home and instead told officers the child was with the father.
Holloman testified that she used the drugs when clubbing and forgot that the drugs were in her purse. She said had no idea how they got on the bed. She will be sentenced July 26 by Judge Matthew Hoffman and is facing more than 60 years in prison.