Shivangi Sinha
In June 2008, the police were investigating the disappearance of Army nurse Holley Lynn Wimunc in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They discovered a suspicious fire in her apartment and noticed a section of carpet had been cut out. Missing knives and other signs pointed toward foul play. Their attention soon turned to her estranged husband, Marine Corporal John Wimunc. His arrest came only after an accomplice provided key information to authorities. ABC’s ‘20/20: You Took My Daughter’ and Dateline’s ‘The Trouble in Bardstown’ look into the case and highlight the crucial evidence that led to John’s conviction.
John Wimunc Was in the Middle of a Divorce With His Estranged Wife When She Went Missing
John Wimunc grew up in Iowa and had long dreamed of joining the military. After finishing high school in 2004, he enlisted in the US Marines and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as a combat engineer with the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. He was doing well in his career when he met Army nurse Holley Lynn James through her brother, and the two quickly fell in love. By mid-2007, John and Holley were married. Holley, who had two children from a previous relationship, lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she was stationed at Fort Bragg. John divided his time between Camp Lejeune and Holley’s home, and together they managed to make their relationship work despite the distance.
Things between John and Holley soon became unstable. According to Holley’s friends, John allegedly spoke to her in a condescending manner and belittled her professionally. They claimed he resented her position and had allegedly also begun physically abusing her. Reportedly, Holley’s phone contained photos documenting her bruises. She eventually filed for divorce and, on May 19, 2008, sought a restraining order against John, alleging that he had choked her and threatened to shoot her. The order stated that John had pointed a loaded gun at her, threatening to kill both her and himself. Although the restraining order was initially granted for ten days, it later lapsed when Holley failed to appear for subsequent court hearings, leaving it no longer in effect.
On June 10, 2008, when Holley failed to show up for work, her friends grew concerned and went to check on her at her apartment. Upon arriving, they noticed the strong smell of gasoline and smoke, but Holley was nowhere to be found. Police were called to the scene and, during their search, discovered that a section of the carpet had been cut out and two knives were missing from a kitchen set. Investigators immediately launched a formal inquiry and brought in John for questioning. He was reportedly intoxicated during his first interview and claimed to have no knowledge of Holley’s whereabouts. Neighbors later told police they had seen a man running from the apartment and getting into a pickup truck on the night she disappeared.
John Wimunc’s Accomplice Confessed to the Police After Holley Wimunc’s Remains Were Found
Police also interviewed John Wimunc’s former girlfriend, Lindsay, who had reportedly been calling and harassing Holley at odd hours. A court had previously ordered her to cease all contact, and after questioning her, authorities confirmed that her alibi checked out. The investigation then shifted its focus to John. When officers spoke with some of his fellow Marines, they learned that on the night of June 10, John’s close friend Kyle Alden had been asking around about borrowing a pickup truck. Kyle was brought in for questioning and claimed that John had asked for his help moving some items, but later canceled. Although Kyle wasn’t arrested at the time, he was restricted from leaving the base as police remained suspicious.
On June 13, 2008, after Holley’s burned remains were discovered in a shallow grave about 20 miles from Camp Lejeune, Kyle’s story began to unravel. He confessed that on the night of June 10, John had called him and told him to come to Holley’s address with a pickup truck. He said he did not ask questions, and that is when John confessed to him that he had killed his wife after an argument. Kyle said that he did not ask any questions and helped in disposing of the remains. He even admitted to being present when John had placed the remains in a shallow grave and attempted to burn them off. On June 13, John was arrested and charged with Holley’s murder.
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John Wimunc is Incarcerated at a North Carolina Facility Today
Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty for John Wimunc, but the case was delayed for over two years. Before it went to trial, John accepted a plea deal. In March 2015, he pleaded guilty to the charges of first-degree aggravated murder, second-degree arson and conspiracy to commit second-degree arson in exchange for removing the death penalty from consideration. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During sentencing, John offered no statement or explanation for his actions. Now 50 years old, he is serving his sentence at the Scotland Correctional Institution in Laurinburg, North Carolina, where he will remain for the rest of his life.
