James Holland (Texas Ranger)

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James Holland is a retired Texas Ranger who is credited with eliciting 93 confessions from serial killer Samuel Little. [1] The Los Angeles Times profiled Holland in 2019, calling him a "serial killer whisperer". [2] Ranger Holland was also profiled on 60 Minutes in the 2019 episode "The Ranger and the Serial Killer".

Contents

Biography

Holland grew up outside Chicago in the town of Polo, Illinois, where his family renovated The Peek Home Orphanage to accommodate their seven children. [3] Holland graduated from University of Louisville in 1993. According to the International Homicide Investigators Association, Holland joined the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1995 as a highway patrol trooper. He was named a lieutenant in 1995 and later served as a security detail for then-Texas Governor George W. Bush, and provided security during his campaign for President. [4]

Career

Holland's career is punctuated by high-profile homicide investigations and serial killer discoveries. [5] [ failed verification ] He is credited with eliciting 93 confessions from Samuel Little, which have been painstakingly matched up to 60 cold cases [6] and counting. The FBI named Little the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history, thanks to Holland's work in the interrogation room. [7]

He is recognized as a subject-matter expert in interview techniques and regularly speaks to investigative agencies across the country. [8]

Holland has also appeared on episodes of 48 Hours "The Murder of Jackie Vandagriff" (2020) [9] and "The Plot to Kill Jamie Faith" (2022). [10] Holland's investigative work and interrogation tactics to solve the murder of Jackie Vandagriff were highlighted by CBS News, [11] who also interviewed detectives with the Grapevine Police Department who praised Holland's role in the case.

James Holland’s aggressive interrogation techniques are the subject of a six-part podcast called “Smoke Screen: Just Say You’re Sorry.” [12] Released in 2023, it examines the confession of Larry Driskill, in which Driskill said he committed a murder while saying he had no memory of doing so. [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "Convicted Killer Linked to 90 Murders". Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  2. ↑ "A Texas Ranger got a prolific serial killer to talk. This is how". Los Angeles Times. September 26, 2019.
  3. ↑ "THE HOUSE THE PEEKS BUILT". Chicago Tribune.
  4. ↑ Choiniere, Alyssa (October 6, 2019). "Texas Ranger James Holland: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know".
  5. ↑ Griffin, David. "Texas Ranger Takes Stand In Murder Trial For Suspected Serial Killer". news9.com.
  6. ↑ "How a Texas Ranger convinced serial killer Samuel Little to confess to murdering 93 people". CBS News.
  7. ↑ "Samuel Little: Confessions of a Killer". Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  8. ↑ "Pennsylvania Homicide Investigators Association". www.pahia.us.
  9. ↑ "The Murder of Jackie Vandagriff". CBS News.
  10. ↑ "The Plot to Kill Jamie Faith". CBS News.
  11. ↑ "Was a college student targeted because she resembled her killer's ex?". CBS News.
  12. ↑ "'Just Say You're Sorry' questions Texas Ranger's interrogation technique". KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station. 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  13. ↑ "Larry Driskill - Learn their story | Innocence Texas". Innocence Project of Texas. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
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