The mysterious murder of Holly Strickland, a loving mother, has long troubled her family. What seemed like a casual walk in the backyard ultimately ended in his untimely death. Survey Discovery’Secrets, Lies & Private Eyes: The Bullet and the Bounty’ centers on private investigators investigating Holly’s murder some seven years later to see if they can find enough to convince the authorities to reopen the case. So, let’s find out what happened next, shall we?
How did Holly Strickland die?
Holly Fox Strickland was originally from Georgia and a mother of two young children. Her relatives described her as a gentle person who took great care of her children. Sometime after graduating from high school, she worked as a manager at Kroger, a local grocery store. At the time of the incident, she was separated from her husband but was living with her former in-laws in Gainesville, Georgia.
The 32-year-old was last seen between 9.30pm and 10pm on February 3, 2014. After Holly put her daughter to bed, she went out into the garden to talk on the phone. However, she was not seen at home the following day. Holly’s car, purse and other items were still at home and she was reported missing on February 5. About three days later, a family member saw Holly’s body in the garden along a tree line. She was fully clothed but was shot in the face from a distance. Authorities realized that Holly’s phone was missing.
Who Killed Holly Strickland?
On the show, John and Alex Dalman, a duo of private investigators, re-examined the case for any new leads. Despite her separation from Dusty, she lived with her mother and stepfather in their home while Dusty lived elsewhere. But according to Holly’s sister, Angela, she was planning to leave the house around this time. The autopsy later showed no signs of sexual assault or defensive injuries and that it was not a close range shooting.
According to the show, while Holly’s phone was not found, records showed she received three phone calls that night; two from a best friend and one from Dusty. After careful consideration, Dusty and his parents were ruled out, leaving investigators where they started. Later, investigators were tipped off to someone who knew something about the murder.
A tipster told investigators that a friend confessed to him knowing who had committed the murder, naming a woman. Later, a friend of Dusty also mentioned the same name. This woman met Dusty while he was in prison, and she was a former slave. According to the show, Dusty’s friend claimed that this woman once threatened Holly. Although there is no concrete evidence, two people talking about the same person piqued John and Alex’s curiosity.
Additionally, a pen found at the crime scene was sent for DNA testing, and although the results were inconclusive, it contained both male and female DNA. Once John and Alex relayed the information to the police, they agreed to reopen the investigation. In September 2021, authorities announced they would dedicate more time and resources to investigating Holly’s murder and asked anyone with information to come forward.
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