OXFORD WEEKLY PLANET

Friday, February 27

Kelly Woods murder victim identified

Area residents provide details

The Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department has positively identified the body found in Kelly Woods last Saturday as Wendy Pane Holloway, a newcomer to Oxford. The body was found by an equipment operator who had been working nearby at the Kelly Green construction site.

Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Public Information Officer Elizabeth Jones said, "Thanks to information provided by Oxford residents, we have been able to identify the victim and are continuing to move forward with the investigation."

Pearce Brokers agent Sally Stoppard alerted authorities that Holloway was missing.

"It's just horrible," Stoppard said. "That poor girl. She just moved here a few months ago, and to end up like this, it's just terrible."

Stoppard said Holloway rented a furnished home from her agency late last year. The residence is owned by a local artist, who is currently studying abroad.

Authorities are not releasing many details on the status of their investigation. Jones declined to disclose any details about Holloway's cause of death or to say whether investigators believe she was killed where she was found.

"Identifying the victim was a major step," Jones said, "but we still have a long way to go. We are committed to solving this crime as soon as possible and bringing the responsible party or parties to justice."

The 28-year-old Holloway was an independent contractor in the information technology industry. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she recently moved to Oxford from Seattle, Washington.

She is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Pane, of Pittsburgh, and her brother, Peter Pane, of Memphis, Tennessee. Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for next week in Pittsburgh.

By Kemper Jones at 4:49 PM