Affidavit: Jersey Bridgeman died from asphyxiation

Zachary Holly, 28, of Bentonville is escorted by Benton County Sheriff's Deputies into Circuit Judge Robin Green's courtroom Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, for his probable cause and bond hearing at the Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville.
Zachary Holly, 28, of Bentonville is escorted by Benton County Sheriff's Deputies into Circuit Judge Robin Green's courtroom Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, for his probable cause and bond hearing at the Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville.

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The state medical examiner determined the cause of death of a Bentonville kindergartner murdered on Nov. 20 was asphyxia, according to a probable cause affidavit released Wednesday.

Zachary Holly, 28, was arrested Monday night in connection with the death of his neighbor, 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman. Holly and his wife, Amanda Holly, watched Jersey and her younger sister until around 11 p.m. Nov. 19 while Jersey’s mother was at work, the affidavit states.

Zachary Holly and Jersey’s mother, DesaRae Bridgeman, put the girls to bed, then Holly returned home. Holly was seen at 3:35 a.m. at the E-Z Mart on Southeast Main Street, where he said he purchased stomach medication. Bridgeman’s boyfriend, Brandon Couch, was working overnight at the E-Z Mart.

Jersey was reported missing from her home at 608 S.E. A St. when Bridgeman awoke to find her eldest daughter was not in bed at 6:43 a.m. She spoke with police, then handed the phone to Amanda Holly while she searched for Jersey.

Officers located Jersey’s body inside a bedroom closet in a vacant house adjacent to the Holly’s residence, according to the affidavit.

The police executed search warrants on Holly’s home, Bridgeman’s home and the house in which Jersey was found. Zachary Holly submitted cheek swabs to officers to compare with DNA evidence obtained from Jersey’s body, the affidavit states.

Holly was interviewed by police and initially denied any connection to Jersey’s death. He called detective Sgt. Kris Moffit on Friday. He met with detectives on Monday, where he waived his Miranda rights. The statements Holly made to detectives are redacted from the probable cause affidavit.

Officers arrested Holly at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, just after Holly spoke with detectives. He was charged with capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary.

The Bentonville Police Department held a press conference Monday night to announce Holly’s arrest and the charges. The department did not include the rape charge in the list of charges. Police Chief Jon Simpson said he had no comment on why the department left off the rape charge.

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