Oxford Eagle, Saturday, September 2, 2000

Startling Arrest Made In Software Murder
Victim's Brother in Custody of Memphis Police

by Alicia Armitage, Staff Reporter

Peter Austin Pane, brother of Oxford murder victim Wendy Pane Holloway, was arrested at his Memphis home yesterday and charged with her murder. The Memphis Police Department released a statement saying that Pane is being held at the Memphis City Jail pending extradition to Yoknapatawpha County.

Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Elizabeth Jones said, "We are especially grateful to the Memphis Police Department for their assistance in capturing Peter Pane." Officer Jones said the Sheriff's Department cracked the case using a combination of physical evidence and newly obtained witness testimony, and requested assistance from Memphis law enforcement officers in order to apprehend Pane.

The Sheriff's Department is still withholding many of the details regarding the case against Pane, but sources close to the investigation say the evidence against him is strong. Pane's reported motive in the slaying of his sister involves a dispute between the siblings over ownership of a cutting-edge software encryption program they were collaborating on.

Before Pane's arrest, suspicion in the Holloway murder had fallen on several Oxford residents, including blues musician Willie King, author Blake Stillwater, his wife Eugenia, and their son, Philip. Blake Stillwater, who allegedly was Holloway's lover and the reason for her move to Oxford, was reached at his home for comment on the arrest. "Wendy Holloway's death was a terrible tragedy and, while I am truly shocked to learn that her own brother is the one responsible, I'm greatly relieved the Sheriff's Department has finally been able to arrest her killer."

Pane is predicted to arrive in Oxford next week and is expected to be indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Wendy Holloway.