Sheriff: Bloody knife recovered from Nyssa home
Janet Holmes By KBCI Web Staff
NYSSA, Ore., - Authorities in Eastern Oregon say an elementary school teacher has been found murdered inside her home.
Brian Wolfe, undersheriff with the Malheur County Sheriff's office, says a man called 911 at about 3 a.m. Tuesday to report that his wife had been injured. When police arrived at the home located at 824 Owyhee Avenue in Nyssa they found Janet Holmes, 48, deceased. Sheriff's deputies have not disclosed how Janet died although they believe foul play was involved and arrested her husband, William Holmes, on the murder charge. On Thursday, Wolfe said two knives were found inside the home and one of them had blood on it. He could not confirm, however, that the two knives may have been the murder weapon. Dan Norris, Malheur County District attorney, said Holmes' bond has been set at $1 million. Oregon law prohibits Norris from releasing details about the cause of death although officials performing the autopsy may choose to release information.
"She was an excellent teacher, and was highly requested (by the students)," Grotting said. "It's a great tragedy to the school and the community." Grotting said Holmes taught kindergarten as well as the first and second grade. She was headed into her 19th year of teaching with the Nyssa School District. Shawn Jensen, principal at Nyssa Elementary, said he met with staff Tuesday morning and notified them of the news. Jensen said the school decided not to go into details about the death but told the students that it was a tragedy and that she had passed on. School officials brought in extra counselors to be available for students. A memorial service will likely be held at the school, however, no details have been set. Holmes, 54, is currently in the Malheur County Jail. An autopsy will be held later Wednesday.
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