CARA MARIE HOLLEY - 18 yo - Roanoke VA

A night shift worker with a temper that led to raging outbursts was
charged with abducting and killing an 18-year-old Roanoke woman who was
his friend after police said they caught him driving the slain woman's
new SUV on Friday.
Carey Shane Padgett, 21, of Roanoke was arrested behind the wheel of
Cara Marie Holley's white 2011 Kia Sorento in Franklin County, the day
after a family member reported her missing because she didn't show up
for a meeting, police said. Roanoke County police believe she was killed
on a Roanoke County farm and her body dumped in woods near Rocky Mount.
Holley, whom her friends described as caring and fun, was "good
friends" with Padgett, said Andrew Whitmire, 18.
"She just loved to be carefree and have fun," Whitmire said.
"Whenever someone was in deep, she'd help. She wouldn't talk bad about
anyone." He said Holley had been "like a sister" to him since meeting
their freshman year at Patrick Henry High School.Last year, when Whitmire and his girlfriend learned the girlfriend
was pregnant, Holley was the first to offer support, he said.
Holley had the same steady boyfriend -- not Padgett -- for years,
Whitmire said. Her boyfriend couldn't be reached Friday.
Padgett's Facebook profile says he had worked the night shift in
inventory management for Advance Auto Parts and at a Subway sandwich
shop as an assistant manager.
Those who know him said he appeared troubled for years.
"I just remember him having these crazy outbursts all the time," said
Celia Taylor, 22, of Moneta, who attended James Madison Middle School
and Patrick Henry High School with Padgett. "I just thought he was a kid
who was messed up or had problems at home."
Taylor recalled an incident at James Madison when Padgett had to be
restrained by at least one school resource officer after he threw a
chair at another student in the school's cafeteria. The officer forced
Padgett in a headlock and handcuffs, Taylor said.
"It was just another one of his outbursts," she said.
Meghan McClure, 21, of Roanoke, who said she has known Padgett since
kindergarten at Highland Park Elementary School, said he found trouble
frequently as he got older.
"He seemed to have a temper that could be switched on and off,"
McClure said. "But I never would have expected anything out of him like
this. At all."Holley was last seen at 6 p.m. Wednesday at her house, said Roanoke
police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson. She was reported missing about 4 p.m.
Thursday.
Padgett was arrested about 12:30 a.m. Friday and charged with
first-degree murder and abduction by force. He was held in the Roanoke
County-Salem Jail without bail. An arraignment was scheduled for Monday.
Roanoke County police said they expect to file more charges against
him.
Roanoke police investigating Holley's disappearance had believed that
it was suspicious and that Padgett was involved, Roanoke County police
Lt. Chuck Mason said in a statement. Mason wouldn't characterize the
relationship between Holley and Padgett.
Throughout Thursday night and Friday morning, Roanoke police worked
on the investigation. They obtained arrest warrants for Padgett charging
him with illegal use of Holley's credit card. They also determined that
Padgett was in Franklin County, and deputies there were asked to look
for Padgett and Holley's Kia, Mason said.
A Rocky Mount police officer spotted the SUV and held Padgett until
Roanoke officers arrived.
The investigation led police to Holley's body, covered with scraps of
wood and leaves in a wooded area off Crandall Drive south of Rocky
Mount. The medical examiner's office in Roanoke will determine the cause
and time of her death, Mason said.
Roanoke County police combed through a farmer's land in the 5000
block of Bandy Road early Friday morning, where they believe Holley was
slain.
Padgett was convicted of disorderly conduct in 2007 in Roanoke City
General District Court. He was ordered to serve 20 hours of community
service.