A Hawaii man convicted of fatally stabbing his girlfriend and their infant son scrawled "I'm sorry" in blood on the walls of their apartment — a chilling detail that emerged as prosecutors described officers unprepared for the horror awaiting them inside.
Background
Kendall Ramsey, 28, a former Army soldier originally from Chicago, was found guilty by an Oahu jury of first-degree murder in the deaths of Kayla Holder, 23, and their 6-month-old son Kainoa Ramsey. The killings occurred in 2020 at a second-floor studio apartment on the island.
During trial testimony recounted by Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bell, police discovered blood splattered across walls, soaking the sofa and caking the carpet. Holder was found lying on her back with eyes open, hair pooled in congealed blood. The infant lay near a trash can, dressed only in a diaper, his body smeared with dried blood and brain matter bulging from a wound to his head.
The Charges
Ramsey faced two counts of first-degree murder for the stabbing deaths. He was convicted on both counts after jurors deliberated. He faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole when sentenced in November.
Deputy Public Defender Hayley Cheng argued Ramsey reached a "breaking point," citing childhood abuse, abandonment, trauma, and ongoing stress and unemployment that led to depression and suicidal thoughts at the time. She said he caused a car crash after fleeing the scene in an apparent suicide attempt, later telling a hospital worker he was drunk, fought with Holder, lost his temper, blacked out, and woke to find her dead.
Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm called it "an extraordinarily brutal act of domestic violence" that took two innocent lives. He said Holder and her son should still be alive, hoping the verdicts provide some measure of justice for the family.
Key Takeaways
- Ramsey convicted of first-degree murder in stabbing deaths of girlfriend Kayla Holder and 6-month-old son Kainoa.
- Holder suffered 38 stab wounds; infant had 17 — over 50 total.
- Blood-written messages "I'm sorry" and "I stabbed her. She choked me." were found on apartment walls.
- Defense argued mental health crisis, while prosecutors described a brutal domestic violence attack.
What's Next
Ramsey is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 18. He faces life without parole.