Newport News woman guilty in death of toddler
Girl, 3, ingested fentanyl during 2022 play date
NEWPORT NEWS — A 27-year-old Newport News woman was convicted of felony homicide this week in a 3-year-girl’s accidental fentanyl overdose death in the woman’s home two years ago.
Contessa Holloman, who was good friends with the toddler’s mother, invited Ava Hudson to her apartment in northern Newport News on May 30, 2022. They planned to have an overnight play date with Holloman’s daughter.
But about six hours after Ava arrived, she fell unresponsive after ingesting a cocktail of drugs early May 31. Holloman showed up at the home of Ava’s mother — a five-minute drive — about 1 a.m. with the girl in her arms.
Ava was pronounced dead at Mary Immaculate Hospital an hour later.
During a search warrant that police executed at Holloman’s apartment later that morning, police found a torn — and mostly empty — plastic baggie in the living room. Inside was a “powdery white residue” that included heroin, fentanyl and tramadol.
The same residue was found on a blanket in Holloman’s bedroom. The State Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that Ava died of a combination of those drugs, with fentanyl levels “within fatal range for adults.”
Holloman has said she had no idea that Ava had ingested the drug concoction. According to court testimony, Holloman called Ava’s mother to say she was having cramping and needed to bring Ava home.
Holloman testified Ava was sleeping when she picked her up and carried her to her car. She said she heard the girl snoring just before arriving at the mother’s home, and saw some normal drooling. But the child’s mother testified that she knew something was wrong as soon as Holloman handed an unresponsive and pale Ava to her.
Following a one-day bench trial Tuesday, Circuit Court Judge Matthew W. Hoffman found Holloman guilty of felony homicide, two counts of felony child abuse — one involving Ava and one involving another child — and a drug possession count. Felony homicide — a form of second-degree murder punishable by up to 40 years behind bars — is designed for instances in which someone is killed accidentally in the course of another felony.
Now being held at the Newport News City Jail, Holloman faces up to 65 years in prison when she’s sentenced July 26th.
One of the two child neglect charges pertains to Holloman’s other child.
Court documents say Holloman left her 7-year-old daughter alone for several hours when she took Ava home. When investigators and Child Protective Services asked Holloman about that girl’s whereabouts, she said the girl was with her father in Portsmouth. But when police were clearing the apartment for a search warrant after 7 a.m., they found the girl sleeping in her bed.
Ava’s mother could not be reached, while her grandmother declined immediate comment.
“Although we could have never prepared our hearts for such a tragedy to occur, we are undoubtedly certain that God received our angel,” the family wrote in an obituary in June 2022. The obituary said Ava knew her numbers and alphabet, colors, shapes, animals — as well as “her grace, her prayers and her manners.”
“She enjoyed being outside and exploring nature in any types of weather,” the obituary said. “She found entertainment in stepping and splashing in puddles when it rained.”
She also liked visiting her grandmother’s house, taking bubble baths, drawing and loved her favorite Minnie Mouse pillow.
During a bond hearing in January 2023, several character witnesses wrote letters to the judge on Holloman’s behalf — many praising her caring ways for children.
Holloman’s sister, Princess Holloman, said she’s always been a loving and caring person, and always helped Princess when she needed care for breathing difficulties stemming from asthma.
“She remained by my side and took care of me,” Holloman said. “Over the years she has not not only helped me, but also so many of our family and friends. Contessa has always been the go-to person whenever our family, friends and neighbors needed a babysitter.”
“Contessa loved volunteering her time to take care of children, especially infants,” Princess added. “The children took a liking to her, and would pick her over anyone else to be their babysitter … Contessa is a beloved, kindhearted nurturer.”
Another woman, Nicole Washington, said Holloman began babysitting her daughter — now 12 — when she was 6 months old.
“I have never had to question Contessa’s parenting or capabilities of being around any of my children over the years I have known her,” Washington wrote. “She is a very hardworking mother” who is “always willing to help her family and friends with an open heart.”
Though the Newport News police typically announce homicide and murder charges, neither police nor prosecutors announced Ava’s death or the charges — either when the toddler died in May 2022 or when a grand jury indicted Holloman that December. Police spokeswoman Kelly King said the initial notification was delayed because police were waiting the results of the state autopsy.