LITTLE ROCK, AR – Two people brought together because of a killing. This man, murdered this woman’s son 16 years ago and it dramatically changed their lives.
But not so long ago their lives changed again. After something brought them together in a way no one would expect, through one simple word, forgiveness
Dorothy Holloway keeps pictures of her son Brian Hornes throughout her home.
“This is Brian. See those beautiful eyes?,” says Dorothy.
She has grieved for him ever since October 1999. The headline read, “16-year-old Little Rock boy held in slaying of 23-year-old”.
Dorothy says her anger and sorrow created a life of darkness.
“So you were in this dark place from 1999 to 2014? What was that like?,” asks FOX16’s Donna Terrell.
“Hell,” Dorothy says.
But now once or twice a month Dorothy gets in her car and drives at least two hours to get here.
Because behind the fence, the razor wire and steel gates is James Murphy, the man now 32-years-old, “sentenced to 40 years in prison” for shooting Dorothy’s son, by then he was 19.
“When I received that letter on December 3rd telling me she forgave me I knew then God had been listening to my prayers,” James says.
“I had to forgive and forget in order to have peace within myself,” Dorothy says.
Murphy wrote back, “Dear Mrs. Holloway, first I would like to start by saying God bless you and your family. It’s only an act of God that I am reading a letter from you right now. I’ve prayed to Him daily seeking your mercy and your forgiveness. I hope this letter finds you healthy and blessed even under these circumstances. No words can express my remorse and, and regrets I have towards you and your family.”
They now have a pile of letters from each other. And hours worth of visits.
“Talking to her helps a lot. We laugh we giggle. She’s like of second mom to me,” Murphy says.
Letters prove that going from dear Mrs. Holloway to dear momma.
“Why are you calling her momma?,” Terrell asks.
“That’s how I see her. The love is pure,” Murphy says.
“I am his mother in Christ. He’s my son in Christ,” Dorothy says.
But still, there’s the issue of Brian. Murphy says the killing was centered around Brian’s former girlfriend.
“This is a picture of Brian. When you see that picture how does that make you feel?,” Donna Terrell asks Murphy.
“He could still be here, it didn’t have to happen,” Murphy says.
Forgiveness helps them both, but doesn’t erase the 12 more years before Murphy can be considered for parole.
“I deal with it the best I know how. Best I know how. I smile sometimes to stop from crying, stop from hurting but at the end of the night when I lay down at night I deal with because this ain’t it. There’s more to life than this this. All you have to do is do right,” Murphy says.
Dorothy brings peace, friendship and motherly love to Murphy. And the letters are more than just words on a page.
Dorothy says she thinks 16 years is enough time behind bars for killing her son. And she’s now trying to get clemency for James Murphy. Which raises questions about Murphy’s sincerity. Is that what he’s after from her? Here’s what he said about that.
“You do want to get out of prison?”
“Yes ma’am,” Murphy says.
“Are you using her?”
“No ma’am. I never once, not once asked her about helping me come home. This is all her doing. Like I said in that letter, I just want her forgiveness,” says Murphy.
FOX16 will you keep you posted on anything that happens with this story from this point.
But not so long ago their lives changed again. After something brought them together in a way no one would expect, through one simple word, forgiveness
Dorothy Holloway keeps pictures of her son Brian Hornes throughout her home.
“This is Brian. See those beautiful eyes?,” says Dorothy.
She has grieved for him ever since October 1999. The headline read, “16-year-old Little Rock boy held in slaying of 23-year-old”.
Dorothy says her anger and sorrow created a life of darkness.
“So you were in this dark place from 1999 to 2014? What was that like?,” asks FOX16’s Donna Terrell.
“Hell,” Dorothy says.
But now once or twice a month Dorothy gets in her car and drives at least two hours to get here.
Because behind the fence, the razor wire and steel gates is James Murphy, the man now 32-years-old, “sentenced to 40 years in prison” for shooting Dorothy’s son, by then he was 19.
“When I received that letter on December 3rd telling me she forgave me I knew then God had been listening to my prayers,” James says.
“I had to forgive and forget in order to have peace within myself,” Dorothy says.
Murphy wrote back, “Dear Mrs. Holloway, first I would like to start by saying God bless you and your family. It’s only an act of God that I am reading a letter from you right now. I’ve prayed to Him daily seeking your mercy and your forgiveness. I hope this letter finds you healthy and blessed even under these circumstances. No words can express my remorse and, and regrets I have towards you and your family.”
They now have a pile of letters from each other. And hours worth of visits.
“Talking to her helps a lot. We laugh we giggle. She’s like of second mom to me,” Murphy says.
Letters prove that going from dear Mrs. Holloway to dear momma.
“Why are you calling her momma?,” Terrell asks.
“That’s how I see her. The love is pure,” Murphy says.
“I am his mother in Christ. He’s my son in Christ,” Dorothy says.
But still, there’s the issue of Brian. Murphy says the killing was centered around Brian’s former girlfriend.
“This is a picture of Brian. When you see that picture how does that make you feel?,” Donna Terrell asks Murphy.
“He could still be here, it didn’t have to happen,” Murphy says.
Forgiveness helps them both, but doesn’t erase the 12 more years before Murphy can be considered for parole.
“I deal with it the best I know how. Best I know how. I smile sometimes to stop from crying, stop from hurting but at the end of the night when I lay down at night I deal with because this ain’t it. There’s more to life than this this. All you have to do is do right,” Murphy says.
Dorothy brings peace, friendship and motherly love to Murphy. And the letters are more than just words on a page.
Dorothy says she thinks 16 years is enough time behind bars for killing her son. And she’s now trying to get clemency for James Murphy. Which raises questions about Murphy’s sincerity. Is that what he’s after from her? Here’s what he said about that.
“You do want to get out of prison?”
“Yes ma’am,” Murphy says.
“Are you using her?”
“No ma’am. I never once, not once asked her about helping me come home. This is all her doing. Like I said in that letter, I just want her forgiveness,” says Murphy.
FOX16 will you keep you posted on anything that happens with this story from this point.
