On Friday morning a spokesman for the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Department said James Holland, 39, of Lubbock is a suspect in the murder of Holli Jeffcoat, 18, of Northeast Lubbock County. He was not officially charged with murder – but the charge could be filed according to LSO.
Jeffcoat was found dead on February 10. The LSO, at that time, described Jeffcoat as a high school student with special needs. In late January, she told school officials that she was sexually abused and impregnated by Holland.
As of late Friday morning Holland was not officially charged with murder according to his booking sheet. He had, however, been charged with continuous sexual abuse of an underage girl who is a relative of Jeffcoat. He was arrested Thursday night on a $2,000,000 bond.
“There were allegations that came forward, stemming from the Jeffcoat homicide, that led us to this other witness, this other victim. The facts that she brought forward are the basis of this arrest warrant,” said Lieutenant Bryan Taylor, with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office.
Holland was the step-father of Jeffcoat and previous court records accused Jeffcoat’s mother of turning a blind eye to the sexual abuse of Jeffcoat.
The other girl at first denied being the victim of sexual abuse but a physical examination revealed evidence that the underage girl was in fact sexually abused according to court records.
The girl later changed her story and told authorities Holland molested her two to five times a week, for two to three years. She said he began touching her inappropriately when she was approximately nine years old. In more recent years the touching become intercourse.
“[This case is] not by any means over, Taylor said. “This case is still very active. Holli’s murder is still very active. He is suspect. That’s what we’re working with now. That’s what we’re focused on, is that particular case.”
“At this time our focus is on the events leading to and including Holli’s homicide as they pertain to James Holland, and to Holli, her mother, and other family members,” Taylor said.
“I hope if it is him that they keep him in jail,” Holly Alexander, Jeffcoat’s cousin, commented on Friday.
“Holli had a voice and tried to speak out but she was shut down,” Alexander said.
Jeffcoat’s sister was removed from the home and placed into the care of Children’s Protective Services after Jeffcoat was found murdered.
