Twenty years after Megan McDonald’s body was found, her ex-boyfriend was arrested Wednesday. The police were on the lookout for the victim from the beginning as he allegedly had an argument with her before her death.
– On Wednesday, 42-year-old Edward Holley was arrested and Ms. McDonald was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the case, New York State Police announced Thursday.
The body of 20-year-old Megan MacDonald was found on March 15, 2003, near a less traveled road in the suburbs of Middletown, New York. It was soon determined that the woman had been murdered with a blunt instrument. However, the search for the culprit lasted exactly 20 years, one month and four days. According to the New York Times, the 42-year-old learned of the charges in Goshen, New York, where he is being held in connection with another case — he violated probation for a drug-related offense.
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The murder of Megan Macdonald
Megan MacDonald’s death has baffled her family and local law enforcement for two decades. “Even though it dragged on for years, the investigation was never seen as closed,” state police Capt. Joseph Kolek said Thursday. “The man who killed our beloved Megan 20 years ago is in jail, where is he,” the victim’s sister, Karen Whalen, said at a press conference Thursday. “For 20 years, Meghan’s family never lost hope that this day would come,” he added.
Megan MacDonald was a student who also worked as an employee. His father, Dennis MacDonald, a respected NYPD detective, died a year before his death. The victim knew the man who was arrested on Wednesday well. According to documents filed by investigator Michael Corletta, cited by the New York Times, “Mr. Holley was Ms. McDonald’s boyfriend and her main marijuana supplier, and they smoked together every day.” The captain did not disclose what evidence was gathered against Hawley. Case documents obtained by the New York Times show he was interrogated by police four times over a 20-year period. According to the portal, Megan McDonald owed him a loan, but he refused to return it, which led to an argument and the end of the relationship. A few days later, on March 14, 2003, McDonald’s friends saw him leaving a friend’s birthday party shortly after midnight. Witnesses also saw a second car belonging to Holly. Characteristic because it is described as “the loudest car in town”. After a while both cars stopped and Edward Holly got into Meghan’s vehicle. After 12 hours, the student did not come to work. Then his family and friends became worried. According to the New York Times, two days after the young woman’s body was found, her car was found with evidence pointing to a “brutal attack.”
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Main photo source: fbi.gov