Arrest Made In Bridgeman Case

Zachary Holly
Zachary Holly

— Bentonville police arrested Zachary Holly, 28, Monday night in connection with the death of 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman.

Holly lives in a mobile home next door to where Jersey lived with her mother, DesaRae Bridgeman, on Southeast A Street.

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Jersey Bridgeman

Holly is being held in the Benton County Jail, arrested on charges of capital murder, kidnapping and residential burglary, according to a police news release. Chief Jon Simpson said no further arrests are expected.

Simpson said Holly was an acquaintance of the victim’s family.

DesaRae Bridgeman and Holly’s wife are friends on Facebook.

Jersey’s family was notified of the arrest before a news conference was held at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Simpson said.

“It’s been an intense week for us at the police department and in the city of Bentonville,” said Simpson, who did not take questions at the news conference.

Jersey was reported missing from her home at 608 S.E. A St. at 6:34 a.m. Nov. 20. Her body was found just minutes later two houses south in a vacant home at 704 S.E. A St. Holly lived between the two homes at 702 S.E. A St.

Hundreds of people attended Jersey's funeral Tuesday.

704, 702 and 608 S.E. A St.

Jersey Bridgeman lived at 608 S.E. A St. Her body was found at 704 S.E. A St. The man accused of killing her lived at 702 S.E. A St.


View 704 SE A St in a larger map

There are no records of Holly having contact with Washington County or federal authorities in the area.

The utilities at Holly's address were last paid by Joseph Blackmon, according to city records. Blackmon and Holly are brothers, according to their mother's Facebook page.

Holly was seen wandering around the crime scene in pajamas and a robe as police searched his home the day Jersey’s body was found.

Police searched Holly’s home, the Bridgeman home and the vacant house in which Jersey was found. Officers submitted more than 50 items of evidence to the State Crime Lab on Nov. 21. Simpson said the State Crime Lab was “instrumental” in helping develop the case and arrest.

Kermit Channell, executive director of the State Crime Lab, said Monday his office is still processing evidence sent last week by police. A bond and probable cause hearing for Holly is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday before Circuit Judge Robin Green. A probable cause affidavit will be released after the hearing, Simpson said.

Holly was married to Amanda Holly, according to their Facebook pages. Zachary Holly's page has been taken down, and Amanda Holly changed her name on Facebook to Amanda Broderson. She also changed her relationship status to divorced.

She posted on her friend Brandy David's page Monday night.

"Ok so this is how im reacting to all of this. First, Jersey was like my own child. I helped raise her and her sister leah for a year. Second, i agree with all of you. He is sick and a disgrace to everyone that knew him. I feel sick, scared, hurt, pissed off, and now worried."

Zachary Holly attended Huntsville High School but did not graduate, Superintendent Robert Holly said Tuesday.

Teachers and students at the school Jersey attended spent Monday remembering her. Jersey was a kindergartener at Sugar Creek Elementary School.

“I didn’t see a lot of tears,” Principal Pam Blair said of her visit to Jersey’s classroom. “It is sort of like a celebration of her life.”

Jersey loved to give her a hug following lunch each day, Blair said. “She was a sweet, joyful, little girl,” Blair said. “She was always happy. Despite her short life, she was a normal little girl in a kindergarten classroom among her peers.”

Lori Passmore, assistant principal, said many students drew pictures of Jersey swinging on a swing set.

Teachers also read the book “A Terrible Thing Happened” by Margaret Homes. The book talks about what children should do when exposed to tragic incidents, Blair said.

Counselors were at Sugar Creek on Monday as part of a plan district officials crafted Sunday to help children process Jersey’s death. The plan included every teacher at the school reading a vague script to students about the incident, Blair said.

“We are so sad that a student from our school, Jersey Bridgeman in Mrs. Gotwalt’s kindergarten class, has died,” the script read. “The police are working as hard as they can to find out what happened to her. Because this is such a serious tragedy, rumors have been spread and many people have said things that may or may not be true. I would like to answer any questions you may have. I will answer them as honestly as I can. It is important to discuss any questions you might have with an adult and not your friends. We want to make sure everyone gets true information.”

Students were asked to write or draw how they were feeling about Jersey or anything else on their minds, Blair said. Teachers will review each student’s work and then decide which students may need counseling based of what they created or said. Teachers will call parents of students who seem extremely upset, afraid or angry, Blair said.

Jersey, who was 5 at the time, was found Dec. 2, 2011, chained to a dresser in her Rogers home, according to court documents. She lived with her father and stepmother, David Bridgeman and Jana Slinkard, who are serving prison sentences for felony charges related to the incident.

Streetview of Bridgeman homicide locations

Jersey Bridgeman's house is on the right, Zachary Holly's trailer is in the middle and the house where Jersey's body was found is in the middle.


View Jersey Bridgeman Homicide in a larger map

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