Arrest in death of Ark. girl in prior abuse case

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Bentonville police announced Monday evening that they have arrested a neighbor in the slaying of a 6-year-old girl whose body was found two days before Thanksgiving.

Jersey Bridgeman was reported missing the morning of Nov. 20, and her body was found minutes after a search began in an abandoned house two doors from her home.

Police Chief Jon Simpson said Zachary Dewayne Holly, 28, is charged with capital murder, kidnapping and residential burglary and that he's being held in the Benton County Jail.

Simpson said Holly will have a bail and probable cause hearing Wednesday, during which a probable cause affidavit will be released.

"Many questions related to this investigation and arrest will be answered by the affidavit of probable cause, which will be released on Wednesday," said the chief, who didn't take questions from reporters.

Simpson said work by the State Crime Lab helped speed the arrest but he didn't say how Jersey was killed or release other details about her death or what led police to Holly.

The chief said the girl's family had been notified about the arrest. A funeral for Jersey funeral is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Rogers Funeral Home in Rogers.

Jersey's death came about a year after abuse allegations were leveled against her father and stepmother in nearby Rogers.

Court records show David Bridgeman told an investigator he cut a belt to fit around his daughter's ankle and chained her to the dresser because she got into medication and other things around the house. He and Jersey's stepmother, Jana Bridgeman, 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.

Police revealed little about the homicide investigation, but police Capt. Justin Thompson said earlier that there was "no reason ... for the community to be worried at this point."

Thompson said the girl died sometime the morning her body was found - between midnight and 6:53 a.m. He would not reveal who called 911 to report her missing.

After Jersey's body was found, investigators searched the home where she lived and the house where her body was found, as well as the homes in between.

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