PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL) — Disturbing new details have surfaced in the murder of five-year-old Kamarie Holland of Columbus, Georgia, and the recent arrest of the child’s biological mother, 35-year-old Kristy Siple.
Court documents obtained by News 3 allege the day Holland’s mother reported her missing, investigators believe the mother sold the child, knowing the little girl would be sexually abused in exchange for money. Investigators say the little girl was raped, sodomized then strangled to death.
Wednesday morning, Siple cowered under her long hair, hiding her face from our News 3 camera just before her first appearance in front of Russell County District Court Judge Walter Gray. The judge set a no bond in her case.
“She has been charged with murder during the course of a Kidnapping, Murder during the course of Rape, Murder during the course of Sodomy and Human Trafficking,” said Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor.
Investigators say Siple reported the child missing from her Bowman Street home in Columbus after claiming she had awakened early on December 13 and found her daughter missing, with the front door open.
However, according to the Human Trafficking Warrant obtained by News 3, Siple, “On or about December 13, 2021, did knowingly subject another person to labor servitude or sexual servitude….she did agree with another person to pay her for having sexual intercourse and sodomy with her minor child.”
The person Simple allegedly sold Holland to was 37-year-old Jeremy Williams, who had a history of abusing children. Williams was arrested the same day Holland was reported missing and charged with Capital Murder of a child less than 14 after the girl’s body was located in a vacant 15th Avenue home in Phenix City where Williams used to live.
Before the gag order, Sheriff Taylor said Siple and Williams had a relationship. Additional charges against Williams are forthcoming.
“We expect in the next couple of days he will be charged with Capital Murder during the course of a Kidnapping, Capital Murder during Course of a Rape, Capital Murder during the course of Sodomy and Production of Child Pornography,” said Sheriff Taylor.
The Russell County Sheriff’s Office has led the 16-day investigation while being assisted by Columbus Police. Siple, who is also known as Kristy Hoskins, was taken into custody about 1 p.m. on Tuesday at the Circle K on Victory Drive by the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Taylor said his agency asked the federal agency to assist in apprehending Siple. She was held for several hours in Columbus before waiving extradition to Alabama. Siple was booked into the Russell County Jail at about 5:30 p.m.
Judge Gray extended a gag order on the Siple case during Siple’s initial court appearance. That gag order is similar to the one issued by Johnson in the Williams case, Chief Assistant Russell County District Attorney Rick Chancey said. Gag orders have been issued in both cases to control pre-trial publicity and ensure a fair trial for the defendants by limiting what officials, attorneys, and potential witnesses can say. However, the devastating reality of what detectives believe Kamarie Holland suffered is apparent.
“This has really struck a nerve for all of us because we really care about our kids and our community. The only thing I have to say is, please monitor where your kids are and who they are around,” said Assistant Columbus Police Chief Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick.
Taylor thanked all the law enforcement agencies who have worked on this case since Holland was first reported missing before Christmas.
“We are doing everything we can to bring justice for this little girl,” said Sheriff Taylor.
More details are expected to be released in preliminary hearings for Siple and Williams. The hearing dates have not been set.
Kamarie’s father, Corey Holland, issued a statement Tuesday night to News 3 through a family spokesperson after the mother of his child was arrested.
“The amount of pain Kristy has caused by ripping Kamarie out of our lives will never cease. We are glad to see that she has been arrested. We are one step closer to justice for Kamarie. We hope that justice is served. Kristy should receive whatever the maximum penalty she can get,” the statement read. “… She’s a monster. A real mother protects and would die for her children. Kristy is a monster. My family and I will continue to wrestle with the loss of losing our angel Kamarie. We will ask that you continue to make your news about her and the justice she deserves.”
Neither defendant is eligible for a bond at this time.
Meanwhile, investigators confirm Siple is also facing a failure to appear charge in a separate felony case regarding the chemical endangerment of a child back in 2018. News 3 is working on learning more about that investigation.