A Florida woman named Sherry Holtz was brutally murdered on December 4, 1999. The latest developments in the cold case that went unsolved for nearly 25 years involve the arrest of her longtime boyfriend, Gary Durrance. According to multiple sources including NBC News, Fox35 Orlando, ClickOrlando and CNN,
Sherry Holtz was last seen at Uncle Nick's Bar in Sanford on December 3 between 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., according to reports from the Sanford Police Department.
On December 4, her body was discovered in a wooded area behind a business at 2890 South Orlando Dr in Sanford, Florida. The medical examiner determined that she had suffered blunt force trauma, strangulation and sexual battery. A bloody knife was found near her body with human blood and additional DNA on it.
The DNA testing performed in 2000 could not yield sufficient samples for analysis due to the small size of the bloodstains on the knife. However, in 2023, modern-day DNA testing identified Holtz's blood on the knife and Durrance's DNA on the handle.
Durrance initially denied being with Holtz on that night but witness statements and evidence contradicted his account. He was arrested near a wooded area off Veteran's Memorial Parkway in Orange City, Florida, on Thursday, June 18 and charged with second-degree homicide.
The couple had a history of domestic violence incidents between 1996 and 1999. They had an argument on December 2, which led to Holtz being kicked out of their house. The roommates at the time reported that Durrance was home on the night of the homicide but could not confirm his presence for the entire night.
The Sanford Police Department announced Durrance's arrest at a news conference on July 19, 2024. Chief Cecil Smith expressed hope that this development would bring some comfort to Holtz's loved ones who have waited for justice for over two decades.
