Holly Faces Charges

Bentonville Man Accused Of Raping, Killing Child

— Prosecutors filed formal charges Wednesday against a Bentonville man accused of raping and killing his 6-year-old neighbor.

Zachary Dwayne Holly, 28, of Bentonville is charged in connection with capital murder, kidnapping and rape, all Class Y felonies. He is also charged with residential burglary, a Class B felony.

At A Glance

What The Charges Mean

Zachary Holly faces either life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted of capital murder. A kidnapping conviction is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life imprisonment. Holly faces from 25 to 40 years or life imprisonment if convicted of rape. A rape conviction normally carries a sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life in prison. A conviction of raping a child 13 or younger, however, carries a minimum sentence of 25 years. Capital murder, kidnapping and rape are classified as Class Y felonies. Residential burglary, a Class B felony, is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five years to 20 years.

Source: Staff Report

Holly was arrested Nov. 26 after about a weeklong investigation into Jersey Bridgeman’s death. A medical examiner found the girl died from asphyxia, according to court documents.

Holly is being held without bond in the Benton County Jail. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday in Circuit Judge Robin Green’s court, but the case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Brad Karren.

Bentonville police officers Travis Nichols and Mike Henson found Jersey’s body in the closet of an abandoned house at 704 S.E. A St., just south of Holly’s mobile home. Holly lived at 702 S.E. A St., next door to Jersey’s home at 608 S.E. A St.

Bentonville police received a call at 6:43 a.m. Nov. 20 about a missing child, according to the affidavit. DesaRae Bridgeman told police her daughter had been with the Holly family while she was at work, according to court documents. The Hollys often would baby-sit Jersey and her younger sister when DesaRae Bridgeman and her boyfriend were at work, according to the affidavit.

According to court documents, Holly carried Jersey back to her home while DesaRae Bridgeman carried her other daughter. They placed the girls in the same bed, according to the affidavit.

DesaRae Bridgeman discovered Jersey missing when she woke up shortly after 6:30 a.m. Nov. 20, according to court documents.

Holly told police he woke up at 3:35 a.m. Nov. 20 with an upset stomach and walked to the E-Z Mart at Southwest Eighth and A streets to get medication, according to court documents. Police obtained a video from the store and a sales tape showing Holly made the purchase. DesaRae Bridgeman’s live-in boyfriend, Brandon Crouch, worked the overnight shift at the E-Z Mart during that time, according to court documents.

Holly denied having anything to do with the girl’s disappearance or death when questioned by police, according to the affidavit. Holly provided detectives with cheek swabs for DNA comparison purposes. Holly also gave detectives the clothing he said he had been wearing since he went to bed the night of Nov. 19, according to the affidavit.

Portions of the affidavit where DNA results may have been discussed were redacted. Police interviewed Holly again, and those details also were redacted from the affidavit.

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