A bright future was just beginning for Kiarah Chanel Holden-Venisee, a young woman remembered for her compassion, confidence, and the unforgettable spark she brought into every room. The 26-year-old, known for her infectious laughter and ability to uplift others, had recently graduated from surgical tech school and started a new career. Her life was cut tragically short on Sunday, October 11, 2026, in what investigators believe was a domestic violence incident that also ended the life of her
husband.
Kiarah was born on March 10, 2000, and filled her years with creativity, determination, and love. She was a driven and dedicated individual who pursued her passions with energy and imagination. She first graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in graphic arts, expressing her creative side through her artwork. Later, she found a new calling in the medical field, training as a surgical technician at Sandhills Community College. She had just begun working for Vantage Surgical Solutions, embarking on a career devoted to helping others. Her family remembered her as a beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, and friend who loved to spend time with her family, pursue fitness, cook, and travel.
The events that led to her death unfolded in the early morning hours in Raeford, North Carolina. At around 12:30 a.m., deputies from the Hoke County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a home in the 100 block of Grove Walk Road to conduct a wellness check. When they arrived, they could not make contact with anyone inside. While looking through a window, the deputies saw the unconscious body of a man on the bathroom floor.
Forcing their way into the residence, the deputies made a devastating discovery. Inside, they found Kiarah and her husband, 33-year-old Michael Rozzelle, in separate rooms. Both were unresponsive and had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services pronounced both Kiarah and Michael dead at the scene.
The Hoke County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the deaths. Based on their preliminary findings, investigators announced they were treating the case as an apparent murder-suicide. They stated that it appeared to be an isolated domestic violence incident and assured the community that there was no ongoing threat to the public. The case was considered closed with the death of the primary suspect.
In the wake of the tragedy, Kiarah’s family was left devastated by the sudden and violent loss of a woman with a bright future. They started a GoFundMe page to help with expenses and to raise awareness about the scourge of domestic violence. They pointed out the tragic irony that Kiarah was killed in October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. "Her future was bright, and her loss has left her family devastated," they shared. Kiarah’s memory is cherished by her mother, father, birth father, her brothers and sister, grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, and friends who loved her deeply. Her life, they said, lives on in the joy she shared and the love she gave so freely.
