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This message is posted on behalf of Holly’s sister.
My name is Lori Lackie, and I am Holly Bernice Van Auken’s older sister. Sharing her story is both heartbreaking and necessary, as our family continues to search for answers and justice.
Holly was only 31 years old when her life was taken from us. She was a devoted mother to her one-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son. On April 7, 2014, while her children were safely staying with their grandparents, Holly was found murdered in her home in southwest Oklahoma City.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Holly died from multiple stab wounds to her neck, head, and hands—a brutal act that has left an indelible mark on all of us. Her child’s father discovered her body and called the police to her residence near Southwest 60th and May Avenue around 1:40 p.m. That moment changed our lives forever.
During the initial investigation, authorities recovered a small amount of DNA evidence. At the time, they did not proceed with testing due to concerns about the sample size and limitations in forensic technology. Now, more than a decade later, advancements in DNA analysis give us renewed hope that progress can finally be made.
The circumstances surrounding Holly’s murder remain painfully unclear. Investigators found no signs of forced entry, but just a month before her death, Holly’s home had been burglarized. She came home on March 10, 2014, to find her front door kicked in and several valuable items missing. We still do not know if these two incidents are connected.
Neighbors described Holly as quiet and reserved. She had lived in the neighborhood for about a year, and her tragic death deeply unsettled the community. Many residents expressed concern for their safety and a strong desire for answers—something we, as her family, have felt every day since.
Holly’s absence has profoundly affected our family. Her children were adopted by our parents after her death. Her youngest, who has cerebral palsy, asks about her biological mother often, and her eldest, now grown, was only nine years old when his world was turned upside down. Watching them grow up without Holly has been incredibly difficult.
Eleven years have passed, yet the case remains unsolved and the person responsible has not been identified. The lack of closure and justice weighs heavily on all of us. We continue to hope that advances in forensic science will eventually reveal the truth about what happened to Holly, so that her memory can be honored and her children can understand the story of their mother.
We miss Holly every single day. Our family, friends, and community mourn her loss and seek justice on her behalf. Her children deserve to know who took their mother from them, and we hold onto hope that one day, we will have the answers we need.
Whoever did this is still out in the world free and could do this to someone else.
My name is Lori Lackie, and I am Holly Bernice Van Auken’s older sister. Sharing her story is both heartbreaking and necessary, as our family continues to search for answers and justice.
Holly was only 31 years old when her life was taken from us. She was a devoted mother to her one-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son. On April 7, 2014, while her children were safely staying with their grandparents, Holly was found murdered in her home in southwest Oklahoma City.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Holly died from multiple stab wounds to her neck, head, and hands—a brutal act that has left an indelible mark on all of us. Her child’s father discovered her body and called the police to her residence near Southwest 60th and May Avenue around 1:40 p.m. That moment changed our lives forever.
During the initial investigation, authorities recovered a small amount of DNA evidence. At the time, they did not proceed with testing due to concerns about the sample size and limitations in forensic technology. Now, more than a decade later, advancements in DNA analysis give us renewed hope that progress can finally be made.
The circumstances surrounding Holly’s murder remain painfully unclear. Investigators found no signs of forced entry, but just a month before her death, Holly’s home had been burglarized. She came home on March 10, 2014, to find her front door kicked in and several valuable items missing. We still do not know if these two incidents are connected.
Neighbors described Holly as quiet and reserved. She had lived in the neighborhood for about a year, and her tragic death deeply unsettled the community. Many residents expressed concern for their safety and a strong desire for answers—something we, as her family, have felt every day since.
Holly’s absence has profoundly affected our family. Her children were adopted by our parents after her death. Her youngest, who has cerebral palsy, asks about her biological mother often, and her eldest, now grown, was only nine years old when his world was turned upside down. Watching them grow up without Holly has been incredibly difficult.
Eleven years have passed, yet the case remains unsolved and the person responsible has not been identified. The lack of closure and justice weighs heavily on all of us. We continue to hope that advances in forensic science will eventually reveal the truth about what happened to Holly, so that her memory can be honored and her children can understand the story of their mother.
We miss Holly every single day. Our family, friends, and community mourn her loss and seek justice on her behalf. Her children deserve to know who took their mother from them, and we hold onto hope that one day, we will have the answers we need.
Whoever did this is still out in the world free and could do this to someone else.
