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Soldier Guilty in Brutal Double Murder
1 Aug
Summary
- Former soldier Kendall Ramsey found guilty of first-degree murder.
- Ramsey murdered his girlfriend and their infant son in 2020.
- Defense claims of mental distress were rejected by the jury.
Kendall Ramsey, a 28-year-old former soldier, has been found guilty of first-degree murder for the March 2020 killings of his 23-year-old girlfriend, Kayla Holder, and their 6-month-old son. An Oahu Circuit Court jury delivered the swift verdict after rejecting the defense's argument of extreme mental or emotional distress. Ramsey stabbed the victims 38 and 17 times respectively, before fleeing the scene.
Ramsey also faces a life sentence without parole after the jury's decision, with sentencing scheduled for November 18. Judge Brian Costa will preside over the sentencing. The defense had presented testimony suggesting Ramsey suffered from PTSD, depression, and psychic numbing due to childhood abuse, exacerbated by financial and personal stress. However, the prosecution argued his actions were deliberate, pointing to the use of a knife sharpener and Ramsey's detailed recollection of events.
In addition to the double murder conviction, Ramsey was found guilty of first-degree attempted assault for driving at 119 mph into another vehicle on Kunia Road after the stabbings. The driver of that car, Lynette Rojas, was injured. The prosecuting attorney emphasized the brutality of the acts and the devastating loss for the victims' families.
