TMCnet News

Apple Valley husband charged in death of woman, unborn baby
[March 11, 2013]

Apple Valley husband charged in death of woman, unborn baby


Mar 11, 2013 (Pioneer Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- An Apple Valley man is charged with murder after prosecutors say he killed his wife and her unborn child.

Roger Earl Holland, 36, was charged Monday, March 11, in Dakota County District Court with two counts of second-degree murder.

On March 7, Margorie Ann Holland, 37, was found at the bottom of a stairway in her apartment, with bruises, abrasions and injuries consistent with strangulation, according to the criminal complaint.

She was 15 weeks pregnant, the complaint said.

Holland himself called 911 that morning, saying his wife was having a heart attack. She was taken to the hospital, where both she and the unborn child were declared dead around 11:30 a.m.

Holland claimed the couple hadn't been having problems, but deleted text messages show arguments between the two about money, the complaint said.

Phone texts also indicated Margorie Holland was unhappy with her marriage and planned to leave.



Investigators also found information on Holland's phone that may have been tied to an Internet search regarding whether a fall down the stairs could break someone's neck, according to the complaint.

Holland's attorneys said the couple was happy and had a bright future, and that the allegations were shocking to those who knew them. They said the couple had been together for about three years, and were planning a move to Texas.


Marino Eccher can be reached at 651-228-5421. Follow him at twitter.com/marinoeccher.

___ (c)2013 the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) Visit the Pioneer Press (St.

Paul, Minn.) at www.twincities.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]