Tuesday night, dozens of friends and family members of murdered teen Holli Jeffcoat gathered to honor Holli’s memory and celebrate what would have been her 19th birthday.
The vigil was held at Wildcat Memorial Park in Idalou at 9:30 p.m. on E 6th and Maulberry. Family members say that everyone is welcome to attend. The people who came to the vigil all wore purple glow-sticks in honor of purple, Holli’s favorite color. They also released 19 glowing balloons into the night sky, one for each year of Holli’s life.
Some of the people who attended were Holli’s relatives, some worked or studied at the schools Holli went to, and still others came because Holli’s story had made an impact on them.
Holli was a special needs student at Idalou ISD who attended school at a program in Lorenzo. She was looking forward to graduating from high school this year.
Holli was found murdered, with her throat slit, uterus removed, and body set on fire, on February 10. The Sheriff’s Office confirms that she was pregnant at the time she died. While no one has been charged with Holli’d murder yet, the investigation into her death is still active.
Records released after Holli’s death show that she and her sister experienced extensive sexual abuse. Holli’s stepfather, James Holland, was arrested on March 10. He is charged with the continuous sexual abuse of Holli’s younger sibling. Holli’s mother, Debi Holland was arrested on April 29, charged with aggravated sexual assault. The warrant alleges Debi knew her husband James Holland, was sexually abusing Holli, but allowed the abuse to continue. Her arrest warrant revealed outcries of abuse from both Holli and her sister, as well as more gruesome details surrounding Holli’s death and home life.
But Ronny Lemmond, Holli’s uncle who is helping to coordinate the vigil, said that on Holli’s birthday he wants people to remember Holli as a sweet, smiley teen, not for the horrifying way in which she died.
He thought about making the event a candlelight vigil, but worried about how candles would hold up to the West Texas wind. Weeks in advance, Lemmond decided that purple glow-sticks would be a better way to honor Holli.
‘We are gonna try and deck that park out as much as possible in purple,” Lemmond said.
He explained that he’s already heard back from many people in Idalou and Lorenzo who say they want to attend, he is grateful for the community support.
He adds that anyone is welcome to attend.
“Anybody that’s touched by the story they can come out,” Lemmond said. “If there’s a big mob out there, I would love that, the more the merrier.”
