West Texas man pleads guilty in 2016 slaying of stepdaughter

A West Texas man has pleaded guilty in the death of his 18-year-old stepdaughter who authorities say was repeatedly subjected to sexual abuse before she was fatally stabbed and her uterus was cut from her body.

Forty-two-year-old James Holland was sentenced Tuesday in a Lubbock courtroom to life in prison after pleading guilty to capital murder in the 2016 death of Holli Jeffcoat.

The body of Jeffcoat, who was mentally disabled, was found weeks after she had told authorities that Holland was sexually abusing her, leading to pregnancy.

Authorities say her body, and the home in which she was staying, were burned in an apparent effort to cover up the crime.

Jeffcoat’s mother, 40-year-old Debi Holland, also is charged with capital murder in the teen’s death and is awaiting trial.

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