Nearly three decades after the tragic murder of off-duty D.C. police officer Deena Campbell in her Silver Spring, Maryland home, authorities have arrested her former boyfriend Kenneth Wonsom once again in connection with the case. Campbell, who was just 24 at the time of her death, was found shot to death in her apartment on September 16, 1995. Wonsom, who was originally charged with her murder shortly after the crime, saw those charges dropped within two months, leaving the case unsolved for years. Officials have not disclosed what new evidence led to this recent arrest, but they confirmed that Wonsom was taken into custody in Laurel and charged with first-degree murder.

The original investigation from 1995 revealed a series of troubling details. Wonsom claimed that he left the apartment early in the morning to go to the store and returned to find the front door slightly ajar and Campbell dead inside. According to Montgomery County police, he told investigators that he had locked both the top and bottom locks when he left at around 3:20 a.m., but when police arrived, they found the keys still in the door. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots around the same time Wonsom claimed to have been out, with one witness specifically recalling five shots — the exact number of times Campbell was shot.

The missing piece of the case has always been Campbell’s service weapon, which was never recovered. Detectives also noted a voicemail left by Wonsom on Campbell’s answering machine that raised suspicions. In the message, he casually mentioned stopping to buy items, including Listerine and soda, claiming he was on his way home. However, when questioned, Wonsom told police those were items Campbell had already asked him to pick up, an inconsistency that investigators found suspicious.

Adding to the case against Wonsom were statements from Campbell’s colleagues and friends, who revealed that she had expressed fear for her life. Campbell had confided to a fellow officer just two nights before her death that if she failed to show up for work on Saturday, he would know that Wonsom had killed her. She also reportedly told others that she was planning to move out of the apartment she shared with him because she was scared.

For decades, the case remained cold, with investigators working to uncover new evidence that could tie Wonsom to the crime. The turning point came when cold case detectives re-examined the evidence using modern forensic tools and re-interviewed witnesses, ultimately finding enough to bring charges once more. While officials have not disclosed all the details, the decision to arrest Wonsom again suggests that significant new information has surfaced.

During a press conference, police highlighted the importance of perseverance in cold case investigations and praised the work of detectives who never gave up on seeking justice for Campbell. Montgomery County police have stated that additional details about the case and the evidence leading to Wonsom’s arrest will be shared soon.

The arrest brings a renewed sense of hope for Campbell’s family, friends, and former colleagues who have waited nearly thirty years for answers. While many questions remain about what happened on that tragic night in 1995, the case serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of domestic violence and the importance of revisiting unsolved crimes with modern investigative techniques.

Campbell’s death, now under renewed investigation, also sheds light on the vulnerabilities faced by law enforcement officers in their personal lives. Despite her role as a police officer, she became a victim of violence in her own home, an aspect that resonates deeply within the law enforcement community. The re-arrest of Kenneth Wonsom marks a critical development in a case long considered one of Silver Spring’s most haunting unsolved murders.

Authorities have urged anyone with additional information related to the case to come forward as the investigation continues. A news conference is expected to provide further updates on the evidence and next steps in the legal proceedings. For now, after decades of waiting, there is renewed hope that justice for Deena Campbell may finally be within reach.