In the spring of 2014, a sense of unease settled over a quiet neighborhood in Oklahoma City. Thirty-one-year-old Holly Bernice Van Auken, a mother of two, had not been heard from for several days. A concerned friend, unable to reach her, went to her home on Southwest 60th Street to check on her. What they discovered inside on April 7, 2014, was a scene of tragedy; Holly was found deceased.
The authorities were promptly called to the residence.
The subsequent investigation by the medical examiner would reveal a violent end to Holly's life. She had sustained multiple stab wounds to her neck and chest. Those who lived nearby described Holly as a quiet person who mostly kept to herself, having only resided in the neighborhood for about a year.
A month prior to her murder, Holly had been the victim of a break-in. She had returned home on March 10th to find her door kicked in and several valuable items missing. It remains undetermined if this earlier crime is connected to her death. To date, the murder of Holly Van Auken remains unsolved, and no suspects have been publicly identified. Her family continues to seek answers and justice for their loss.
