Kenneth Wonsom was taken into custody on Tuesday, nearly three decades after the murder of his girlfriend, an off-duty D.C. police officer, in her Silver Spring apartment.
According to NBC4 Washington, this marks the second time Wonsom has been charged in the 1995 killing of 24-year-old Deena Campbell. The initial charges against him were dropped just two months after the murder for reasons authorities have not disclosed.
Montgomery County police arrested Wonsom in Laurel on August 5, 2025, charging him with first-degree murder. Officials have not specified what new evidence led to his rearrest, but the case had recently received renewed attention from investigators.
Victim's Premonition Points to Troubled Relationship
Campbell had apparently expressed fears about Wonsom to colleagues shortly before her death. Detective Paula Hamill revealed that Campbell had confided in a fellow officer just days before the murder.
One of Campbell's beat partners later told investigators that she had made a chilling prediction. Campbell reportedly said, "If I don't come show up for work on Saturday, then you'll know he killed me."
Investigators also discovered that Campbell had been planning to move out of the apartment she shared with Wonsom. Friends confirmed she had expressed fear of her boyfriend in the days leading up to her death.
Suspicious Circumstances Surround The Crime Scene
When police responded to the apartment on September 16, 1995, they found Campbell's keys still in the door. Wonsom claimed he had left to go to the store and returned to find the door open.
Wonsom told investigators he had locked both locks before leaving at 3:20 a.m. However, witnesses in the building reported hearing gunshots around that same time frame.
Detective Hamill noted that one witness reported hearing exactly five gunshots—matching the number of times Campbell was shot. Additionally, Campbell's service weapon was missing from the scene and has never been recovered.
Conflicting Stories Emerge From Voice Message Evidence
A voicemail Wonsom left on Campbell's answering machine became a key piece of evidence in the investigation. In the message, he stated he was stopping for Listerine and sodas on his way home.
The message said: "Hey, boo, I'm on my way home. I was just calling to see if you wanted something. I should be there—it's 4:05—I should be there about 15, 20 minutes."
However, when questioned by police, Wonsom contradicted his own message, claiming these were items Campbell had specifically requested. This discrepancy raised red flags for investigators examining the case.
Renewed Investigation Leads To Long-Awaited Arrest
Montgomery County police announced the arrest on social media Tuesday afternoon, indicating the culmination of renewed investigative efforts that began earlier this year.
Authorities have scheduled a news conference for Wednesday to provide more details about the arrest and any new evidence that may have emerged. The announcement comes after decades of uncertainty for Campbell's family and colleagues.
The arrest represents a significant development in one of the area's longest-standing cold cases involving a law enforcement officer. More information about the prosecution's strategy is expected to emerge in the coming days.
