UPDATE: In 2026, after a lengthy second trial and weeks of deliberation, a jury found Edward Holley not guilty of murdering Megan McDonald.
After hearing a month of testimony and after six full days of deliberations, an Orange County, New York, jury was unable to come to a decision in the murder trial of Edward Holley.
The trial began on Monday, March 10, 2025, nearly 22 years after 20-year-old Megan McDonald was found dead on a narrow dirt path in Wallkill, New York. The cause of death was blunt force trauma with multiple injuries to the skull.
Holley, who had previously dated Megan, pleaded not guilty.
During deliberations, the jury requested clarifications and additional information including phone logs, police statements and entire testimonies. They also asked to see photos from the case and to review various reports.
On Tuesday, April 15, the jury notified the judge that they were unable to come to a decision. The judge sent them back to continue deliberating. By Wednesday morning, they were still unable to agree on a verdict and the judge declared a mistrial shortly after 11 a.m.
According to the Times Union, at a hearing after the mistrial was declared, the prosecution stated they intend to retry the case.
There will be a status conference in early May.
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