SILVER SPRING, Md. — Almost three decades after off-duty D.C. police officer Deena Campbell was found shot to death in her Silver Spring apartment, investigators are making a renewed push for answers in a case that remains one of the region’s most haunting unsolved homicides.
A Promising Officer’s Life Cut Short
On September 16, 1995, 24-year-old Deena Campbell was discovered dead in her apartment after being shot five times. Her boyfriend at the time, Kenneth Wonsom, told police he had gone out to the store around 3:20 a.m. and returned to find the front door slightly ajar and Campbell dead inside.
“He described it as being approximately 3 inches ajar when he got home,” said Montgomery County Police Detective Paula Hamill. “He said that he locked both the top and bottom locks when he left.”
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the keys still in the door. Witnesses later reported hearing five gunshots around the same time Wonsom claimed to have left the apartment.
Missing Weapon, Unanswered Questions
Campbell’s service weapon, issued to her as a member of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, was missing and has never been recovered. Investigators uncovered a voicemail from Wonsom on Campbell’s answering machine that further complicated the timeline. The message, timestamped at 4:05 a.m., 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 in about 15, 20 minutes. I’m stopping to get some Listerine and a couple of sodas. Love you. Bye bye.”
In police interviews, Wonsom stated those were the very items Campbell had asked him to get earlier, according to Det. Hamill — raising doubts about whether the call was genuine or part of an alibi.
A Warning from the Victim
Perhaps most chilling were statements Campbell had made shortly before her death. She had reportedly told friends and colleagues she was afraid of Wonsom and was planning to leave him.
“One of her beat partners she worked with in D.C.—someone who worked the neighboring patrol area—told us she said, ‘If I don’t show up for work on Saturday, you’ll know he killed me,’” Hamill said. That conversation occurred just two nights before Campbell was murdered.
Charges Filed, Then Dropped
Wonsom was initially charged with Campbell’s murder, but those charges were dropped two months later. The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office has never publicly disclosed the reason for dismissing the case. News4 reached out to Wonsom for comment but has not received a response.
Despite the case growing cold over the years, investigators have not given up. Det. Hamill emphasized that the case remains open and active, and any new information could be vital to solving the murder.
“Even moving forward from 29 years ago to now — anyone who may have heard anything about what happened to Deena Campbell — we need them to come forward,” she said.
Friends Still Seeking Closure
Juanita Eggleston, who trained with Campbell as a police cadet and later served alongside her, said she’s still grieving the loss of her friend nearly 30 years later.
“That’s a long time, a very long time,” Eggleston said. “I believe in karma. What you put out in the world, you get back. But I want justice for her.”
Although Campbell’s loved ones have found some measure of peace, the absence of resolution continues to weigh heavily.
“I have peace,” Eggleston added, “but I will have better peace when we get to a resolution.”
Public’s Help Still Needed
As the anniversary of Campbell’s death approaches, Montgomery County Police are renewing their appeal to the public. Investigators are especially interested in hearing from anyone who may have known Campbell or Wonsom, heard rumors, or has information that could help close the case.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Montgomery County Police’s cold case unit.
Campbell, remembered as a dedicated officer and friend, remains a symbol of unfinished justice for many in the law enforcement community. Detectives hope that with time and public cooperation, the silence surrounding her death can finally be broken.
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