Jury Deadlocks In Megan McDonald Murder Case, Mistrial Declared

GOSHEN, NY — The judge in the trial of Edward Holley has declared a mistrial after an Orange County jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the cold case killing of Megan McDonald.

Holley was arrested April 20, 2023 and charged with second-degree murder in the death of McDonald, who was found dead in the town of Wallkill on March 15, 2003.

She had been killed in the driver's seat of her 1991 Mercury Sable, and her body was dumped on a dirt path off Bowser Road.

Authorities said she died of multiple skull fractures and brain injuries from blunt force trauma.

Police said Holley owed McDonald money which was causing hostility between the two, leading up to the homicide.

Witnesses have contradicted Holley's alibis for the night of the murder, according to law enforcement.

In April of 2023, Holley was released from custody because he wasn't indicted within six days of his arrest. A special prosecutor was then assigned to the the case.

McDonald's family reacted to the judge's decision to declare a mistrial with resolve in a statement released on Wednesday.

"While we are disappointed by the outcome of this complex trial, which concluded with a hung jury, we remain resolute in our pursuit of justice for our beloved daughter and sister," the family said. "The evidence against Edward Holley presented during the proceedings was substantial, damning and deeply compelling. Clearly, multiple members of the jury remained adamant about Edward Holley’s involvement with and his role in causing Megan's death, even when his guilt was evaluated under the rigorous legal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt."

See: Man Charged In 2003 Death Released; Special Prosecutor Appointed

The family said it believes that there are strong indications that Holley could still face justice in the death of their loved one.

"We are encouraged by the strength of the case and by the clear impression it made on those jurors who remained steadfast in their opinion of Holley’s guilt after seeing the evidence proving Holley’s involvement with Megan’s killing and were prepared to render a guilty verdict," the McDonald family said. "Our family continues to grieve an unimaginable loss, but our determination has not wavered. We remain confident that, in time, accountability will be achieved, and justice will be served on behalf of Megan and upon Ed Holley."

At a hearing, first reported by the Times Union, prosecutors said they intend to retry the case. The judge denied a request to release Holley under home confinement or electronic monitoring.

The defense said that Holley is innocent of the crime.

“Nobody's minimizing what happened to Megan," Holley's attorney Paul Weber told News 12 Hudson Valley. "That was horrible. Whoever did that needs to pay for it, but it's not Ed Holley."