California Man Indicted on Charges of Domestic Violence Resulting in Death of a Spouse

BALTIMORE, MD—A federal grand jury has indicted Dellando Recardo Campbell, age 31, of Lemoore, California, on charges of interstate domestic violence resulting in the death of a spouse, in connection of the death of Serika Dunkley Holness. The indictment was returned on February 5, 2014. Campbell, who was arrested in California on February 7, 2014, was transported to Maryland. Campbell had an initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore and was detained, pending a detention hearing scheduled for Friday, March 25, 2014.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The indictment alleges that Campbell conspired with Ryan Dave Holness to murder Ryan Holness’ wife, Serika Dunkley Holness. DNA evidence found in Holness’ car, which was recovered in Washington, D.C. the day after the murder, link Campbell to the crime.
According to DNA and other evidence presented at Ryan Holness’ two-week trial, Ryan Holness devised a scheme to bring his wife from New York to Maryland for the murder. On June 4, 2009, Holness and his wife traveled from New York to Maryland. Serika Holness was found murdered, stabbed multiple times in Kent County, Maryland on June 5, 2009. Ryan Holness was convicted of domestic violence resulting in the death of a spouse and sentenced to life in prison.
If convicted, Campbell faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Maryland State Police and FBI for their work in the investigation and thanked the Kings County, California, District Attorney’s Office for its assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney John F. Purcell, who is prosecuting the case.