LUBBOCK, Texas -
A Lubbock County judge has issued a media gag order in relation to the Holli Jeffcoat case.
Hon. John J. McClendon, III in the 137th District Court ordered that "those persons involved in the investigation, the prosecution, and the defense of this case refrain from further communication with all news media, including but not limited to, newspaper, print, electronic, television, and radio media regarding these cases or the co-defendants."
The order states that the release of information to the media by law enforcement or attorneys involved in the case could "potentially cause grounds for a change of venue in the trials of these two defendants.
James Holland was indicted in March, charged with continued sexual assault of a child. His wife and the mother of Holli Jeffcoat, Debi Holland, was arrested April 29, charged with aggravated sexual assault.
Jeffcoat was found dead in her Lubbock County home in February, with her throat slashed and her uterus removed. Court documents indicate the 18-year-old, described as a special needs student, was 12 weeks pregnant. Debi Holland's arrest warrant indicated Jeffcoat told a Lorenzo school employee she was pregnant by her step-father, James Holland. She reportedly told another teacher James was going to take the baby out with a coat hanger.
The case has garnered national attention. No one has been charged with murder at this time.
