A suspect was arrested in connection to the January killing of a New Iberia teen whose torso was discovered in a Catahoula Parish river.
Anthony Pierce Holland Jr., 29, was booked into an Ouachita Parish jail Tuesday, where he faces second-degree murder charges after the torso of Sheryl Turner, 19, was discovered in the Ouachita River on Jan. 25.
Holland admitted to the West Monroe Police Department that he killed and dismembered Turner at his West Monroe apartment, according to an affidavit filed at the Fourth Judicial District Court.
An autopsy in Broussard revealed that Turner's neck was severed and her arms and legs were removed from her body. She had evidence of hemorrhaging around her neck and lower back and genital bruising.
The West Monroe Police Department located Holland on April 23.
A search warrant for messages between Holland and Turner shows the two discussed Holland picking up Turner in New Iberia at her mother's home.
On New Year's Day 2024, Holland drove to New Iberia in a black Toyota Corolla. The two returned to Ouachita Parish the same day. On Jan. 2, Turner's phone connected to Holland's Trenton Street apartment WiFi.
Traffic camera footage showed Holland's vehicle was seen four days prior, near where a boater discovered Turner's torso, according to the affidavit.
Holland told police that he planned on having a relationship with Turner. He admitted that he caused Turner's vaginal injuries.
Inside Holland's apartment were multiple spots of blood, with large quantities of blood on the bedroom floor and mattress.
Holland then admitted to police killing Turner during a sexual act. After realizing she died, Holland dismembered Turner with a large kitchen knife and stuffed her remains in plastic bags and a duffel bag.
The next night, he loaded Turner's remains into his vehicle and drove to a body of water that flows into the Ouachita River where he disposed of her body. The knife was disposed of on the property.
Turner's twin sister reported her missing on Jan. 3, two days after the 19-year-old had arrived at Holland's apartment, previous reporting said. Turner stopped responding to messages on Jan. 2.
The affidavit does not state exactly when Holland killed Turner. Only that a body was found on Jan. 25 and Holland was seen nearby four days prior.
We will update this article if the West Monroe Police Department responds to our inquiry.
Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Office detectives found Turner's sister's missing person report lined up with the time of death for the unidentified torso.
On Jan. 31, detectives traveled to New Iberia to retrieve DNA samples from Turner's sister. The samples were submitted to a lab in Shreveport.
On Feb 23, the lab determined the torso to belong to Turner.
This joint investigation was handled by the Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Office, Louisiana State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigations, New Iberia Police Department, Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office and the West Monroe Police Department.
Holland is being held at the Ouachita Correctional Center. He was denied bail.
