Body identified, autopsy reveals shot multiple times

The body of a local woman found Thursday morning along a rural Butler County road had been shot.

The woman has been identified as Jessica Holland of Poplar Bluff, according to Butler County Coroner Andy Moore.

An autopsy performed Friday morning by Dr. Russell Deidiker at Farmington found the 29-year-old had been “shot multiple times,” said Moore.

Authorities learned of Holland’s death at about 10 a.m. Thursday when the Butler County Sheriff’s Department received a report from a passerby on County Road 612, said Sheriff Mark Dobbs.

The passerby reported he “had discovered the body of a white female, and she looked to be deceased,” Dobbs said. “Upon arrival, it was obvious she was deceased, and she had been shot multiple times.”

As the scene was being processed, Dobbs said, the Butler County/Poplar Bluff Major Case Squad was activated to investigate the death.

Investigators, Dobbs said, pursued leads all through the night and continued to do so on Friday.

“One of the things we are concentrating on is retracing the steps of the victim to create a time line,” Dobbs explained. “ … We are talking to everyone who knew the victim.

“Just like any major case squad event, we are turning over every stone.”

Dobbs said it is believed Holland was killed early Thursday morning.

“We are optimistic about the direction the investigation is going up to this point,” said Dobbs.

Further details are not being released at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 573-785-8444.