‘Brutal’ Murder Solved After 24 Years, Boyfriend Charged

Sherry Holtz was brutally killed in 1999, and for over two decades, her murder went unsolved — until now.

Due to improved DNA testing technology, Holtz’s “longtime boyfriend” Gary Durrance, 73, has been arrested and charged in connection with her murder, the Sanford Police Department said in a press conference on July 19.

Holtz’s body was found on Dec. 4, 1999, in a wooded area in Sanford, Florida, by someone collecting cans, police said. Holtz, who was 50 years old at the time of her death, was found lying on her back on a concrete slab.

Her neck was cut, which was determined to be her primary cause of death. She had also suffered blunt force trauma to the head and been strangled, police said, and also had lacerations on her upper body and evidence of severe sexual trauma.

“There is no other way to describe it but a brutal homicide,” said Bianca Gillett, a public information officer for the Sanford Police Department.

A sexual assault kit was performed at the time, but no DNA was found. A blood-stained knife recovered at the murder scene also proved to be unhelpful to the investigation because the sample was “insufficient in size for testing at that time,” police said.

“Looking for DNA wasn’t as prolific as it is today,” Chief of Police Cecil E. Smith explained.

But, after the cold case was reopened in May 2023, investigators learned that the blood on the blade of the knife did belong to Holtz, and additional DNA on the handle belonged to Durrance.

Durrance became a suspect in the original 1999 investigation after police learned that Holtz and Durrance had fought — and Durrance had kicked her out of their shared home — on Dec. 2, just days before her murder. They also had a history of domestic violence incidents dating back to 1996.

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Based on witness statements and the new physical evidence, an arrest warrant was issued for Durrance on July 17. He was then located and arrested on July 18, before he was charged with second-degree homicide. He is currently being held in Seminole County Jail.

It is not immediately clear if Durrance has legal representation to comment on his behalf.

Following his arrest, police said Durrance made comments to investigators allegedly admitting to his involvement in Holtz’s homicide.

“We are absolutely positive that the right man is behind bars tonight,” Gillett said. “And he will finally serve justice and have to answer for his crimes.”

Police also said that Holtz has an adult son, whom they are still working to contact and notify about the arrest.

“We just kind of hope that this brings some peace to the family knowing that this individual who was a longtime boyfriend will now spend the rest of his natural life in jail,” Smith said. “And have the opportunity to face justice for the things that he has committed to Sherry.”