4:34 p.m. update
The jury broke for the day after 4 p.m. without reaching a recommended sentence. They were set to reconvene Wednesday.
Earlier
BENTONVILLE — The mother of a convicted killer tearfully said he was present when she exchanged sex for methamphetamine.
Ginger Simmons made the comments Tuesday morning during the sentencing proceedings for her son. She was the only witness to testify before jurors began their deliberations on Holly’s sentencing.
The jury left the courtroom at 12:12 p.m. to begin their deliberations.
Zachary Holly, 30, of Bentonville was found guilty last week of capital murder, kidnapping, rape, and residential burglary. Jurors listened to his recorded confession where he admitted to row Nov. 20, 2012 abduction, rape and murder of 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Holly’s attorneys are now trying to convince jurors to sentence Holly to life imprisonment without the benefit of parole. Simmons' testimony was part of that effort.
Simmons testified that she was a methamphetamine addict and used the drug while Holly was present in the home and through much of his childhood.
“I used to call it the demon in my life,” Simmons said. “That was my hell. It was more important than work and my children.”
Kent McLemore, one of Holly’s attorneys then began asking Simmons how she obtained her methamphetamine. Simmons said she used to exchange her food stamps for the drugs.
McLemore continued the questioning.
“You want me to say it,” a tearful Simmons said.
Simmons said she would do sexual favors for men with Holly present. He was 9 or 10 years old at the time, Simmons said.
She testified that her boyfriend used to beat her, along with Holly and her other two sons.
Simmons said she knew that her boyfriend was a registered sex offender while she dated and even lived with him. Simmons testified that she did not leave the man even after he beat her and her children.
Simmons was aware of Holly’s childhood claim that a older boy molested him.
McLemore questioned Simmons about claims that she was using drugs and having sex with teenagers instead of paying attention to her son. Simmons said she did not remember those claims.
Simmons admitted using marijuana with Holly when he was 10-years old and she later used methamphetamine with him.
“There are times I did sell the kids' Christmas gifts for drugs,” Simmons said.
McLemore continued questioning Simmons about her past and its impact on her children.
“It doesn’t make sense now that I’m clean and sober,” Simmons said.
Simmons said it makes her sick to her stomach whenever she thinks about what she put her her children through. She testified that Holly was constantly with her and her past may have been worst for him.
“He was my little buddy,” Simmons said. “He was the one that I took him through. I loved him unconditionally.”
Simmons told Nathan Smith, Benton County’s prosecuting attorney, that Holly later told her that he had made up the allegations concerning the older boy molesting him.
“Zach Holly knew right from wrong?” Smith asked.
“Yes, he did,” Simmons responded.
The defense rested after Simmons' testimony. Holly did not testify.
Smith told jurors that the case was about a search for justice for the murdered 6-year-old and Smith described the crime as a wicked, cruel and perverse. “This is a crime of ultimate evil,” Smith said.
Smith said a sleeping Jersey was kidnapped from her bed, home and from he “family that she knew and would never see again.”
Jersey was raped by the man she called Uncle Zach, Smith said.
Jersey fought to free herself as Holly strangled her with her pajamas, Smith said. Jersey had claw marks on her neck and the medical examiner testified that the marks were from Jersey’s attempts to free herself from the pajamas.
Smith then showed jurors a photograph of Jersey’s body. “That’s what mental anguish looks like,” Smith said as the image flashed on two screens in the courtroom.
McLemore told the jury that Holly’s childhood was a tragic one. McLemore said the jury had seen years of records of Simmons' drug use while Holly was present.
Simmons introduced Holly to drugs, McLemore said.
“She handed him a joint,” McLemore said. “A 10-year-old child introduced to drugs by his mother.”
McLemore said the state could have stepped in to protect Holly from his mother.
Holly rocked in his chair as McLemore talked about his childhood.
McLemore said Holly writes and acts like a child.
“Childhood matters, and if there ever was a case where a childhood had more of an imprint on them I don’t know what it is,” McLemore said.
McLemore pleaded with jurors not to impose a death sentence and sentence Holly to life imprisonment without the benefit with parole.
Smith had one more opportunity to address the jury.
“Childhood matters,” Smith said. “Jersey Bridgeman had a childhood and she doesn’t anymore. Her childhood matters.”
Smith said Holly’s childhood should not be an excuse for what happened to Jersey Bridgeman.