 Benton County Sheriff's Office via AP Zachary Holly was booked on charges capital murder, kidnapping and residential burglary in the Nov. 20 death of Jersey Bridgeman, 6, in Bentonville, Ark. on Monday. By NBC News staff and wire services Arkansas restaurant worker Zachary Holly was charged Wednesday with the rape and murder of his next-door neighbor, 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman in Bentonville, Ark., NBC affiliate KARK-TV reported. Jersey's death comes just months after the little girl was the subject of a high-profile child abuse case that resulted in prison sentences for her father and stepmother. Jersey was reported missing the morning of Nov. 20. Minutes after a search for her began, Jersey's body was discovered in an abandoned house two doors from her home in Bentonville, about 215 miles northwest of Little Rock. Holly, 28, who lives next door to where Jersey was staying, was arrested Monday on charges of capital murder, kidnapping and residential burglary. Rape was added to the list of charges in court Wednesday, KARK reported. In Wednesday's hearing at the First Circuit Court in Bentonville, Ark., he was denied bond. Few details were immediately released about how Jersey died or what led police to Holly, but police Chief Jon Simpson said Monday night said that after the hearing Wednesday, a probable cause affidavit would be released and "many questions related to this investigation and arrest will be answered." He said work by the State Crime Lab helped speed the arrest. About a year before Jersey's death, her father and stepmother were charged with abuse after investigators discovered she had been chained to a dresser to stop her wandering around the house at night. David Bridgeman, Jersey's father, told investigators he restrained his daughter to prevent her from getting into medication and other things around the house. David and Jana Bridgeman, Jersey's stepmother, pleaded guilty in June to false imprisonment, permitting abuse of a minor and endangering the welfare of a minor. Jana Bridgeman is serving a 12-year prison sentence, plus three years for a probation revocation. David Bridgeman is serving an 18-year prison sentence.  Bentonville Police Department via AP Undated photo of Jersey Bridgeman. After that, Jersey moved in with her mother and began kindergarten this fall in northwest Arkansas. Holly was a family friend who lived nearby and worked at a restaurant in town called The Flying Burrito Company. One neighbor, Julie Pickard, told The Associated Press Tuesday that Holly wept the day Jersey's body was found. "He was crying for a long time," said Pickard. 'A little old soul': Girl found dead after dad, stepmom jailed The fact that Jersey was abused by parental figures and a neighbor is suspected in her death fits into an unfortunate pattern, according to Beverly Engle executive director of the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County in Arkansas. "Ninety-six percent of people who offend on children are people that the child knows. We all have been so trained in the stranger-danger aspect, which certainly does happen, but I think the reality is that's about 4 percent," said Engle, who interviewed Jersey last year when allegations of abuse against her father and stepmother surfaced. "Jersey was a precious, adorable child and it is very grieving to know even in the moments before her death what she may have experienced, knowing this person or trusting this person," Engle said. Police Capt. Justin Thompson said the girl died sometime between midnight and 6:53 a.m. on the day her body was found. He would not say who called 911 to report her missing. Investigators later searched the home where she lived and the house where her body was found, as well as the homes in between. Holly is being held in Benton County Jail, and on Tuesday was attacked by another inmate, jail Capt. Chris Sparks said Wednesday. He said Holly wasn't seriously injured, and that the other inmate, who was in jail on a parole violation, could face charges. "Obviously this case has gotten a lot of exposure in the media and all the inmates know what he's in for ..." Sparks said. "We're going to do our best to try and keep him safe, just like we do every other inmate." Holly was not required to speak at the hearing, and KARK reported that he remained silent as his lawyers, including public defender Jay Saxton, asked to review the decision to deny bond. This article includes reporting by NBC News' Kari Huus and Elizabeth Chuck and The Associated Press. More content from NBCNews.com:  |
11/28/2012
Neighbor charged with murder, rape of 6-year-old
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