Jurors choose death for killer of 6-year-old

Holly apologizes to family of girl strangled in ’12 attack

DesaRae Crouch (front) is comforted by her mother, Vickie Price, after the trial Wednesday while listening to Benton County prosecutor Nathan Smith’s public statement outside the Benton County Courts Annex in Bentonville. Zachary Holly was found guilty and sentenced to death in the 2012 murder of Crouch’s 6-year-old daughter, Jersey Bridgeman.
DesaRae Crouch (front) is comforted by her mother, Vickie Price, after the trial Wednesday while listening to Benton County prosecutor Nathan Smith’s public statement outside the Benton County Courts Annex in Bentonville. Zachary Holly was found guilty and sentenced to death in the 2012 murder of Crouch’s 6-year-old daughter, Jersey Bridgeman.

BENTONVILLE -- Sighs seeped from the area where Jersey Bridgeman's family and supporters sat Wednesday as they heard a judge sentence her killer to death.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Zachary Holly is escorted out of the Benton County Court Annex on Wednesday by Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Holly was found guilty and sentenced to death in the 2012 murder of 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman.

Zachary Holly's mother sat on the other side of the packed courtroom and cried, comforted by another son.

Sentences

Sentences for Zachary Holly of Bentonville.

• Capital murder: Death sentence

• Rape: Life sentence

• Kidnapping: Life sentence

• Residential burglary: 20 years

Source: Staff report

Holly, 30, of Bentonville stood by his attorneys as Circuit Judge Brad Karren sentenced him to die by lethal injection for killing 6-year-old Jersey in 2012.

The jury of seven men and five women found Holly guilty last week of capital murder, kidnapping, rape and residential burglary.

Jurors watched and listened to Holly's recorded confession where he admitted he abducted the Sugar Creek Elementary School kindergartner from her bed. He went on to describe to Bentonville detectives how he raped and murdered Jersey.

The jury spent three hours Tuesday and almost two hours Wednesday deliberating Holly's punishment. Holly spent much of the deliberation time in a holding cell where he could be seen on a closed-circuit camera constantly pacing.

When the jury returned to the courtroom Wednesday one female juror wiped away tears before she sat down. Another woman on the jury also brushed away tears.

Karren read the rape and kidnapping sentences first. He then read the sentence for residential burglary. He ended with the death sentence.

DesaRae Crouch, Jersey's mother, and other family members cried outside the courthouse after the proceedings. Crouch said it was sickening to have to sit through the trial.

"It's my daughter's day," Crouch said. "He can't take that away."

Holly addressed the court Wednesday. With an ashen face, he stared down before reading a short statement. He said he wanted to apologize to Jersey's family, his former wife and his family.

"I hope someday they can find it in their hearts to forgive me. Thank you."

Benton County sheriff's deputies then led Holly from the courtroom.

Jersey's nude body was found Nov. 20, 2012, in the bedroom closet of an abandoned house next to Holly's home on Southeast A Street. She had been strangled to death with her pajama pants.

Nathan Smith, Benton County prosecuting attorney, described the crime as an "evil deed" that deserved the ultimate punishment -- the death penalty.

In an effort to save his life, Holly's attorneys presented witnesses and testimony that detailed Holly's abusive childhood in California.

"I'm disappointed," Kent McLemore, one of Holly's attorneys, said of the verdict.

Jurors leaving the courtroom declined to comment.

Smith thanked the jury for its decision.

"It was important for our community to return with this verdict for this crime," he said.

Crouch said she was grateful for support from her immediate family and backup family. One of the members of Crouch's backup family is Colleen Nick with the Morgan Nick Foundation, which provides a support network to parents and families of missing children.

She sat through much of the trial to support Crouch.

"It was an honor to support her," Nick said. "Today, Arkansas stood up and served justice. Justice was served today."

Karren set Nov. 16, 2016, as Holly's execution date. Judges are required to set execution dates, but Holly will not be executed that day, since a mandatory appeal will be filed.

Prosecutors have talked with Jersey's family and explained the appeal process, Smith said. Smith believes the verdict will stand through the appeal process.

Jersey's family, their supporters, police officers and prosecutors gathered Wednesday afternoon near her grave at the Bentonville Cemetery and released doves in her memory.

Metro on 05/28/2015

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