BENTONVILLE -- A convicted murderer's childhood was filled with reports about him being physically and sexually abused and at times having to beg for food or eat from the garbage.
Jana Davis, former social worker for the Kern County (Calif.) Department of Human Services, described parts of Zachary Holly's childhood Friday during the sentencing phase of his trial.
The Case
Zachary Holly, 30, of Bentonville could be sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole for capital murder. The kidnapping charge is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life. The rape charge is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 25 to 40 years and the residential burglary charge is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years.
Holly, 30, of Bentonville was found guilty of capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary Wednesday. Jersey Bridgeman, 6, was found dead Nov. 20, 2012, in an abandoned house next to Holly's home on Southeast A Street. She had been strangled with her pajama pants.
Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.
Holly's defense called Davis as a witness to try to persuade the jury to sentence Holly to life imprisonment without parole.
Holly was 2 years old when DHS had its first contact with his family, said Davis, who testified she did not remember Holly.
The referral concerned neglect and conditions in Holly's home and that he was eating out of the garbage because his mother would not feed him. The referral also claimed there was drug use in the home.
The case was closed because it was determined there was no risk to Holly, Davis said.
DHS received a second referral months later in 1987. The complaint reported that Holly's mother borrowed food to feed her boyfriend while Holly had to beg for food.
"The mother is working to take care of her boyfriend rather than feed her child," Davis said when questioned by Kent McLemore, one of Holly's attorneys.
That case also was closed, Davis said.
The next referral, in 1993, concerned Holly, who was 8, being sexually abused by a 13-year-old boy.
Other referrals concerned Holly being left alone and his mother's addiction to methamphetamine. DHS received a report that Joseph Blackmon, Holly's stepfather, had physically abused Holly. The case was referred to police, and Blackmon was arrested.
DHS received four referrals from May 19, 1994, to June 9, 1994, Davis said. The referrals were for allegations that Holly was physically abused by his mother and stepfather. One complaint concerned Holly not attending school and spending his third year in the first grade. The reports also described Holly being forced to eat food off the floor.
Holly was taken into protective custody after one of the referrals, but he was released to his mother, Davis said.
Two referrals in 1996 concerned Holly's mother leaving him for weeks at a time. Her whereabouts were unknown. Holly became ill during one of her disappearances, and the friend she left the boy with could not get medical assistance for him, Davis said.
"How does the state of California not take this kid from his mother?" McLemore asked.
Davis told McLemore that the system was broken, and "Holly and his mother fell through the cracks."
She said DHS, the schools and law enforcement officials missed the signs with Holly's family. Holly's mother moved several times, and that was a factor in how the case was handled, Davis said.
Davis spent most of Friday on the witness stand except when Kenneth Keeton, Holly's older brother, was questioned by Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor. Keeton said Holly confessed to killing Jersey during jail visits with him.
Holly is being held without bond in the Benton County jail.
The trial will resume Tuesday morning.
Metro on 05/23/2015