New Iberia, Louisiana – The tragic death of a 19-year-old female from New Iberia, Louisiana has been linked to a 29-year-old man she met online. Sheryl M. Turner was last seen by her family on December 31, 2023, before embarking on a trip to the West Monroe home of Anthony Pierce Holland Jr., as detailed in a press release from the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Department on April 24.
The investigation revealed that Turner and Holland Jr. had been involved in a romantic relationship primarily through text messages. Turner informed her family that she planned to stay with him before departing from home, according to a statement from the West Monroe Police Department, which collaborated with Catahoula authorities in the case.
On the evening of January 2, Turner’s phone was traced to wifi near Holland Jr.’s phone before abruptly ceasing transmissions. Concerned, her twin sister Sherry initiated a search and reported Turner missing on January 3. It wasn’t until nearly three weeks later, on January 24, that deputies discovered a body, identified only as a torso, in the Ouachita River.
With the use of a DNA sample provided by her twin sister Sherry, authorities confirmed the remains as those of Turner on February 23. After further investigation and examination of forensic evidence, Holland Jr. was identified as a suspect in the case. The West Monroe Police Department executed a search warrant at his residence on April 23, where incriminating evidence of violence was uncovered.
Holland Jr. confessed during subsequent interviews that he had murdered Turner inside his home and subsequently dismembered her body within the premises before disposing of the remains in a water body connected to the Ouachita River. He was taken into custody without incident and booked at the Ouachita Correctional Center for Second-Degree Murder, as stated by the department.
In her obituary, Turner is described as a beacon of light with a warm and affectionate personality that touched the lives of those around her. The devastating outcome of this case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can arise from online interactions and the importance of vigilance in such situations.