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Benton County Sheriff's Office via AP
Zachary Holly was booked on charges capital murder, kidnapping and residential burglary in the Nov. 20 death of Jersey Bridgeman, 6, in Bentonville, Ark. on Monday.
Zachary Holly, the Arkansas man charged Wednesday with the rape and murder of 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman, had been babysitting the little girl the night before her disappearance, as he had many times before, according to a court document released after his first hearing Wednesday.
Jersey's death came just months after a high-profile child abuse case in which her father and stepmother, David Bridgeman and Jana Bridgeman, convicted of chaining the girl to a dresser at night. Jana Bridgeman is serving a 12-year prison sentence, plus three years for a probation revocation. David Bridgeman is serving an 18-year prison sentence.
Jersey had since moved in with her mother, DesaRae Bridgeman, and began kindergarten this fall in Bentonville, about 215 miles northwest of Little Rock. They lived next door to Zachary Holly, 28, and his wife Amanda, friends of the family who frequently babysat Jersey and her 2-year-old sister, as they did on Nov. 19, according to interviews described in the affidavit of probable cause released Wednesday.
When DesaRae came home from work at about 11 that night, she went to get the girls, and after she chatted with the Hollys for a few minutes, Zachary carried Jersey to her home, while DesaRae carried the younger sister — and they placed them in the same bed, the document says.
Jersey was reported missing the morning of Nov. 20. Minutes after a search for her began, Jersey's body was discovered in an abandoned house two doors away.
The probable cause document released to the public is heavily redacted, but it reveals that the crime lab in Bentonville worked through the Thanksgiving holiday to develop a DNA profile from sperm cells found on Jersey's body.
Holly called Bentonville police on Nov. 23, according to the affidavit, and later showed up at a station, gave a statement — the details of which are entirely blacked out in the document — and then was booked on charges of capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary.
In Wednesday's hearing at the First Circuit Court in Bentonville, Ark., he was denied bond, NBC affiliate KARK-TV reported.
Bentonville Police Department via AP
Undated photo of Jersey Bridgeman.
One neighbor, Julie Pickard, told The Associated Press Tuesday that Holly wept the day Jersey's body was found.
"He was crying for a long time," said Pickard.
The fact that Jersey was abused by parental figures and a neighbor is suspected in her death fits into an unfortunate pattern, according to Beverly Engle executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County in Arkansas.
"Ninety-six percent of people who offend on children are people that the child knows. We all have been so trained in the stranger-danger aspect, which certainly does happen, but I think the reality is that’s about 4 percent," said Engle, who interviewed Jersey last year when allegations of abuse against her father and stepmother surfaced.
"Jersey was a precious, adorable child and it is very grieving to know even in the moments before her death what she may have experienced, knowing this person or trusting this person,” Engle said.
'A little old soul': Girl found dead after dad, stepmom jailed
Holly is being held in Benton County Jail, and on Tuesday was attacked by another inmate, jail Capt. Chris Sparks told The AP Wednesday. He said Holly wasn't seriously injured, and that the other inmate, who was in jail on a parole violation, could face charges.
"Obviously this case has gotten a lot of exposure in the media and all the inmates know what he's in for ..." Sparks said. "We're going to do our best to try and keep him safe, just like we do every other inmate."
Holly was not required to speak at the hearing, and KARK reported that he remained silent as his lawyers, including public defender Jay Saxton, asked to review the decision to deny bond.
This article includes reporting by NBC News' Elizabeth Chuck and The Associated Press.
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Leave a Comment:
I hope that precious child is doing good in heaven. It sounds like her life here was hellish enough.
It's beyond sad to see innocent children in the hands of such monsters :(. People like that need to be strung up and shot!
When, in Gods most holy name, is this country going to quit being so wishy-washy with people like this POS. If anyone ever deserved to be castrated or be put to death, this cancer of the world would top the list!!!!
OMG - I can't stand it. What this beautiful and sweet little angel had to endure - unspeakable. This guy will get his in prison eventually. Unless he is kept in lockdown by himself 24-7 inmates will eventually get to him and even the hardest of criminals hate baby killers. I am unable to have children - I would have loved to have given this child a wonderful life and home full of love and happiness. So unfair.
Sick people in this world, is this an epidemic? Sure seems to be. So sorry for this precious little girl.
Somebody kill that piece of @!$%# cut off his balls feed them to him them then shoot him in the head three times not before burning him slowly for his feet to his head
Is it me....But I don't think men make for good baby sitters. Only for thier own family members but nothing outside of that.
@Darren - no, it's not just you. In very limited circumstances I would allow a male to babysit - a father who is a personal friend but with his children present, and going somewhere like to a ball game, fishing, skating, etc. I know it sounds sexist and of course a woman could molest a child but I'll hedge my bets and stick with a female babysitter.
During her short life, this poor child experienced being tortured by her parents then, upon surviving that, is raped and mudered by her neighbor. There is no lower form of human behaviour than to destroy the life of a child. May hellfire be true and their suffering be great.
Betcha ten bucks these cops new what they were doing putting him in with another guy.i would probably be going to prison for murder if i had two minutes with this coward.
It is so heartbreaking that one so young had suffered so much God bless her no more pain or grief. As for her parents and the monster that killed that precious little child. An eternity in the lowest pit of Hell seems to light of a penalty.
did the article mention if he was a repeat offender or had priors/registered offender? I didn't notice it, but if he was, there's another failure of the system letting these people out just so they can do it again. sick.
Four percent are actually molested/murdered by someone other than people they know.......that says we have been headed in the wrong direction, possibly, in our warnings about strangers. Our efforts in dealing with the offenders have also been of course ass well. We have to guarantee ourselves that no molester will ever offend again. The only way that is possible is by doing what has to be done. We can play this game forever or start dealing with the problem effectively.
Poor little girl should have never been born...
I like the idea of donations to the commissary account but be careful there you'll be creating a bounty hunter.. Besides he will get his believe you me. It isn't going to bring this little girl back or take away the injustice but it is the course now, So be it.
When, not if, but WHEN these Arkansas hillbillies find him guilty, and they will, trust me, he'll think Deliverance was the Teletubbies. Those northern Arkansas people do NOT play by the rule books. It will be kangaroo court. Bye bye Zachary.
A trial is for humans, not animals. Animals get put down. So put this animal down and move on. Done and done.
POS. Knew the girl was from an abusive home...was/is married...raped and abused and killed the already abused SIX year old girl. There has got to be a special place in hell.
Poor little innocent precious child........Please, please let me have possession of this POS, just for one wk!!!!
If you even comment in front of 2 or more witnesses that you find 6 year old kids attractive, you should be executed without wasting time for a trial.
A lot of this is the judgement of the actual parent who let this turd into the child's life. If you can't get to know someone for a substantial time before your kids meet them, you need to remain celebate. Mom should be executed too.
Oh dear God in Heaven....
Mr Holly the 28 year old man should be treated just as he treated his poor 6 year old victim...RAPE HIM AND SUFFOCATE HIM! Why does society owe him any favors or why does society have to foot the bill to take care of his sorry ass...this is why we need capital punishment in all states...not just life in prison...the death penalty and follow through with it...don't take care of the worthless piece of @!$%#...an eye for an eye...whatever he did to her...he deserves the same!
Rip my f&@$ing heart out, seeing that picture of Jersey, and thinking of what he did to her. My vote is for a slow painful death for this guy.
That poor little adorable girl suffered so much in her young life. This story is nauseating and makes me wonder about the animals some women birth.
it seams C.P.S should have checked on this child more,some of the workers dont care its just a job to most,then theres the cases of unfounded wich are brought on by vindictive peices of shyt just to cause trouble.and you cant bring slander charges,or the system cant recoup wasted time and money that could have ben used where needed.
back to the point they should take this peice of shyt 5 miles into the country put two nails through his nuts into a tree stump then give him a pointed stick tell him its his choice stay till the weather gets u or kill ur self. it should be telivised so all the other sick sob out there can see what happens when u mess with children.that poor child where was god when this happend oh thats right enjoying himself watching as this child was tortured
What a precious little girl. And what a despicable end to a beautiful life. ALL those who abused this little punkin are heartless & inhuman. Rest In Peace, little one. <3