Back in February, an 18-year-old special-needs girl was found brutally murdered in Idalou, Texas. On Monday, the Lubbock County sheriff’s office released a raft of documents that prove the girl’s own mother was well aware she was being victimized by her father–and did absolutely nothing.
On February 10, the burned and mutilated body of Holli Jeffcoat was found by one of her relatives in their home in Idalou, near Lubbock. Watch more details here, courtesy KCBD in Lubbock (warning, NSFW).
What happened to Holli can only be described as an act of barbarism. Her throat was slashed, her abdomen was torn open, and her uterus and womb were removed. The killer also set fire inside the house to cover up the crime.
Now here’s where this story gets hideous. On Friday, deputies arrested Holli’s mother, Debi Holland, on charges of aggravated sexual assault. They contend that Holland had “firsthand knowledge” of numerous occasions when her husband, James, sexually victimized Holli “and allowed them (the assaults) to occur.” It’s outrageous enough when the very people who are supposed to protect kids from being molested turn a blind eye to such debauchery. But what makes this case particularly outrageous is that Holli was a special-needs child with the mental age of a first-grader.
Court documents revealed that on January 29, Holli told officials at Lorenzo High School that she was pregnant–and the pregnancy was the product of a sexual assault by her father. She was scared to go back home because she was afraid her father would want to have sex with her again, and “the sex hurt.”
Holli also revealed that James planned to get rid of the baby by way of a coat-hanger abortion. She also said that her mother told her not to tell anyone about the incest because–wait for it–“Mom needed James to pay bills.” School officials immediately called police, who told James to get out of the house.
In an interview with child welfare officials, Holli revealed that James had molested her since she was 12 years old. However, Debi Holland talked authorities out of performing an exam on Holli. Another female relative was brought in for sexual abuse treatment on February 4, but was not tested when Holland claimed the tests were unnecessary. It turns out that Debi had caught James fondling this girl at least once. Debi threw him out of the house, but allowed him to return. James was arrested on March 10 on unrelated charges of aggravated sexual assault on a child. However, deputies have all but announced that he will face additional charges.
The only case I can think of that is anywhere near as outrageous is one that happened in my state of North Carolina. Six brothers victimized their younger sister for the better part of 11 years, with the knowledge and approval of their parents. Five of the brothers pleaded guilty, while the parents and a sixth brother opted to take their chances at trial. If convicted, the parents could get life in prison. This is no different. These two do not need to ever live among us again. Frankly, this is one time where I wouldn’t mind seeing defendants get a dose of Texas justice.
