Sheryl Turner: Missing Louisiana teen's body found decapitated, online acquaintance arrested for murder
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
NEW IBERIA, LOUISIANA: The tragic death of 19-year-old Sheryl M Turner from New Iberia, LA, has shaken communities as authorities connect her disappearance to a 29-year-old man she met online.
Turner was last seen by her family on December 31, 2023, before traveling to the West Monroe home of Anthony Pierce Holland Jr, according to a press release from the Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Department.
Holland was arrested on April 23 in connection with Turner's death.
Insight into Sheryl Turner and Anthony Holland's relationship
Reportedly, Turner and Holland had "engaged in a romantic relationship over text message". Before leaving her house, Turner informed her family of her intention to stay with Holland.
However, concerns arose when her phone ceased transmitting on the night of January 2, as mentioned in a report by KLFY.
After Turner was reported missing on January 3, her twin sister Sherry initiated a GoFundMe campaign, expressing the family's growing apprehension: "As the days went by, we knew something was wrong."
Nearly three weeks later, on January 24, authorities received a distressing call about a body floating in the Ouachita River.
"Deputies recovered the body, and the remains were found to be only a torso. There was no head or extremities connected to the body. The remains were sent for an autopsy and the findings led to the case being listed as a homicide," disclosed the West Monroe Police Department in its release.
Identifying suspect in Sheryl Turner murder case
With the assistance of DNA samples from Turner's twin sister, the remains were positively identified as Turner on February 23. Subsequent "forensic data and surveillance" implicated Holland as a suspect in the case, leading to a search warrant executed at his residence on April 23.
"During the search warrants at Holland’s home, forensic evidence of a crime of violence was obtained. During subsequent interviews with Holland, he admitted to killing Turner inside his residence. Holland further stated he dismembered the body of Turner inside his home. Holland stated he placed Turner’s dismembered remains into a body of water that fed into the Ouachita River," the department informed in its press release.
Holland was apprehended without resistance and booked at the Ouachita Correctional Center on one count of second-degree murder, per the department's statement.
Turner is fondly remembered in her obituary as "a shining light to all who knew her, with a kind and loving personality that radiated through her beautiful smile and touched the hearts of those around her".
