Claremore Mother Seeks Answers In Her Daughter's Mysterious Death

Lori Fullbright, News On 6

CLAREMORE, Oklahoma -- A Green Country mother says she has more questions than answers since her daughter was shot in the head more than two years ago.

She is so convinced her daughter's death is not a suicide, and she wants the body exhumed in hopes of finally getting the truth.

Carissa Holliday died on February 21st, 2009. There was no autopsy, the gun was never fingerprinted, no one was tested for gun residue, not even the victim, no one checked the alibi of the people who found her, and no one interviewed a person who was at the home that day, until recently.

Carissa Holliday was 17-years-old and staying at a mobile home in Rogers County with a friend and the friend's boyfriend. Her mother says Carissa and the friend were snooping through the boy's things and discovered something.

Her mother doesn't know what it was but believes the boyfriend found out, got angry and killed Carissa.

"She would've never killed herself. Would've never stuck a gun to her head by accident. That's just crazy," Carissa's mother, Andrea Holliday, said.

The couple says they'd gone to town that night and came home to find Carissa dead in the bedroom. Carissa's mother says the deputy who investigated the death, and the medical examiner assigned to the case, just figured it for a suicide and didn't look any further.

She says she wants the truth and will accept it.

"Whatever it comes up, suicide, anything, I'll accept but, because of all the evidence and witnesses I have, I know it was a homicide," Holliday said

Andrea took her information to the newly elected Rogers County DA, who asked her investigator to take a second look.

The investigator says there are things about the case that concern him, but now, two and a half years later, there are plenty of rumors and theories, but no evidence.

He says even if everything had been done perfectly, the conclusion might still be the same. But, Carissa's mom is determined to dig deeper and even wrote a book about her daughter's case. She wants someone held accountable.

"I don't think you should take a life and get away with it," Holliday said.

The DA's investigator has re-interviewed everyone and is waiting on some additional records before giving the case to the DA.

The DA will then decide whether it's worth it to exhume the body. They say, some questions may never be answered, but urge anyone with information to call 918-341-3164.

6/30/2011 Related Story: Rogers County Sheriff Responds To Mother's Claims Over Death Of Daughter