Benton, Louisiana — Horses grazed in a grassy pasture
outside of Holly Hill Farm, showing no signs of a bombing that occurred three
days ago — the result of an angry employee who may have been bearing a grudge.
Co-workers and neighbors say Douglas Holley, 54, of Benton,
was a quiet man who kept to himself. No one thought he was capable of what
police contend he carried out early Saturday: planting an explosive under the
bedroom of farm owners Bobby and Tracy Hewlett.
"He was a strange man," neighbor Connie Pajeski
said of Holley. "He was very intelligent, introverted. He liked animals
more than people."
At a Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office media conference
Monday afternoon, the Hewletts said Holley had developed a close connection
with one horse in particular, named Charlie, who later became ill with colic
and died six months before the bombing.
Bobby Hewlett, who works as a veterinarian in addition to
owning Holly Hill Farm, said the horse had the serious condition for several
days before Holley became aware of the problem. At that point, the veterinarian
told Holley that the horse was suffering and probably would need to be put to
sleep.
Holley protested, and Bobby Hewlett hooked the horse up to
intravenous treatments — in vain.
To assuage Holley's grief, the Hewletts bought a memorial
marker for the horse that read "Charlie: Doug's Beloved Friend." Work
resumed as normal.
Holley retained his reputation as a handyman, always
willing to help whomever needed his service.
That's why the explosion came as such a shock, said Ben
Hudson, who worked with Holley both on Holly Hill Farm and the adjacent Newtown
Farm.
"When I heard this, it blew my mind," Hudson
said. "He was a fine fellow. If you asked for help, he would help you. He
never seemed like he had a vendetta. But people called him a loner. He didn't
keep company."
Hudson said Holley had told him about the horse's death,
but when months passed, Hudson assumed Holley had come to terms and moved on.
Holley also told Hudson that he wanted nothing to do with women or
relationships, having been hurt by a woman in the past.
"He was a private guy," Hudson said. "He
made his life his work."
Holley, 54, is charged with two counts of attempted
first-degree murder and one count of manufacturing a bomb after investigators
found evidence of materials to create explosives inside of his house, located
on the northwest Louisiana farm about 350 miles from New Orleans, as well as
research and reading materials consistent with bomb-making. Holley initially
was arrested Saturday on weapons charges and an outstanding Caddo Parish, La.,
warrant.
His past court records show nothing more serious than a few
minor traffic citations.
Holley is being held at Bossier City Maximum Security
Facility, said Bill Davis, Bossier Parish sheriff public information officer.
Bond has been set at more than $6 million and no arraignment date has been set.
"There were items that were consistent with
bomb-making materials in the house," Davis said of the investigation into
Holley's residence. "The reality is that anyone could learn how to do
that. The sad reality is that someone would carry it out."
Barbara and George Newton, who live next door to Holly Hill
farm, said when they met Holley he seemed pleasant and personable. He
demonstrated a clear love for horses and the work he did for the farm.
George Newton said the couple knew about the death of
Holley's beloved horse.
"It was going to be a $10,000 operation. Bobby was a
realist about this. This guy wasn't. The horse was a friend," Newton said.
"He had a horse he cared a lot about. And it died. And the person who was
there when the horse died was Dr. Hewlett."
At the conference, Bobby Hewlett said he thought Holley
blamed himself for the horse's death but couldn't bear the guilt of that
responsibility — so Holley transferred the blame to him.
"He was always blaming someone. I became the object,
something he obsessed over for months," Bobby Hewlett said. "I don't
think either of us is mad at Doug. We're just disappointed."
Until the explosion, the Hewletts said they had a good
relationship with Holley and considered him a friend. Holley ate Christmas
dinner with them last year, and the Hewletts had provided him with housing and
a car for the first six months of his four-year employment at the farm.
Tracy Hewlett said he always was very polite.
Tracy Hewlett said Holley had mentioned listening to
right-wing radio and being anti-government to her daughter, but the couple was
shocked that his actions took such an extreme turn.
"It was pretty overwhelming when I found out, but then
I looked around and saw my family and everyone supporting us here and the
outpouring of love," Tracy Hewlett said.
Despite the circumstances, the Hewletts consider themselves
blessed and have no plans to stop being trusting and open.
"This was a miracle we survived an explosion in our
house. It was divine intervention. It wasn't our time, and there's a reason for
that," Tracy Hewlett said. "We're going to make the best of this
Christmas season."
