Megan Leann Holden, age 19, Abducted and Murdered

You probably know the story.  In brief, Megan Leann Holden, age 19, was abducted from a Wal-Mart parking lot in Tyler, Texas, shortly after she clocked out as an employee at 11:43 p.m on January 19, 2005.  Her body was found between Midland and Stanton, roughly six miles West of Stanton, Texas, on the morning of January 21.  Johnny Lee Williams, Jr., age 24, of Tyler was arrested in Willcox, Arizona, for an attempted robbery and is suspected of being the abductor/murderer.

Here's a roundup of the news on the subject:

Tyler Morning Telegraph, January 20, 2005: Woman Abducted from Tyler Store.  "When asked if Wal-Mart policy would have female employees escorted to their vehicles at night and if so, why Ms. Holden was alone, Ms. [Christi] Gallagher [Wal-Mart's media relations official] replied: 'We always stress safety whether inside or outside of the stores. That is all I will say.'"

Amber Alert denied because she was too old.

Odessa American, January 21, 2005: Police Investigate Armed Robbery Report.  Uncle's Convenience Store was robbed around 8:20 p.m. January 20.  "The suspect is described as a tall and slender, black or Hispanic man. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans and a white cap."  Related?  Other reports say it was the same suspect.

Tyler Morning Telegraph, January 21, 2005: Abducted Teen Found Dead in Stanton.  See this one for a map/time line by Ted Townsend of the events from the abduction until the arrest.  "'We are very sad to report that we have located her body in a ditch along I-20 in Martin County and have confirmed it is her,' [Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle] said."

Tyler Morning Telegraph, January 21, 2005: Victim's Body Found; Suspected Kidnapper Arrested in Arizona.

Arizona Daily Star, January 22, 2005: Shooting Is Break In Texas Slaying:   "He said, 'This is robbery. I want all the money in the cash register,' store worker Richie Chapman said. 'And as he said that, he drew a weapon from underneath his shirt, and I drew and fired.  If he had gotten a shot off, I would have been dead,' said Chapman, a retired New York firefighter who carries a .45-caliber automatic. 'And I have no qualms about it, that I think he would have shot me.'"

Midland Reporter-Telegram, January 22, 2005: Oilfield Workers Find Abducted Girl's Body.  "Holden's body was found by two oilfield workers near an overpass at the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 829 and I-20."

Tyler Morning Telegraph, January 21, 2005: Community Offers Prayers for Megan. "Hundreds of people gathered in front of the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Texas Highway 64 West for a candlelight service Friday night in honor of 19-year-old Megan Leann Holden, who was abducted from that same parking lot Wednesday night."

Tyler Morning Telegraph, January 21, 2005: Suspect's Life Changed After Military Service. "'He was real active, jolly, you know, loved music. Real quiet. He's never been a big talker, but in a crowd of people' he would open up, [his aunt, Linda Williams] said.  'He was a total different person when he came back from Iraq ... Anger, no laughing.'"

Midland Reporter-Telegram, January 22, 2005: Prosecutors Ponder Where Case Will be Prosecuted.  City Editor Sissom reports the options and gently reminds readers that the last time the Midland County District Attorney took on one of these multi-county crime spree cases it cost tax payers over $220,000.

Comments

[Lori Levy 3]

I remember how terrifying this was. The news showed the security camera footage of her abduction for what seemed like days....over & over again. Ive never seen ANYTHING

[Lori Levy 3]

as disturbing as this...ever. The way he ran her down on foot in like 4 steps was awful. cannot get that image out of my head even though its been 6 years.

[Geo]

It was a horrible tragedy, Lori.