Special prosecutors taking over Megan McDonald murder case in Orange County
MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. -- A suspect in the 2-decade-old killing of Megan McDonald in Orange County appeared back in court on Wednesday after being released from jail last week.
As CBS2 found out, special prosecutors are taking over the case.
Last week, suspect Edward Holley was released because the grand jury didn't indict him within a legally required time frame. The special prosecutors are taking over due to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler saying he has what could appear to be a conflict of interest in the case.
Holley stayed silent as he was wheeled out of Wallkill Court in Middletown on Wednesday morning, accompanied by his attorney, Paul Weber.
"It's still a standstill. We have no other information other than the scuttlebutt that we hear off the street," Weber said.
READ MORE: Edward Holley released from jail after arrest in cold case killing of ex-girlfriend Megan McDonald
Holley, 42, was arrested two weeks ago and charged in the 2003 killing of McDonald, who was 20 at the time. Her body was found abandoned on a dirt road in Wallkill.
A judge in the case released Holley last week because a miscommunication between New York State Police and the DA's office delayed the Hoovler from filing a grand jury evaluation within six days, which is required by state law.
Hoovler's office said in a statement, "The District Attorney's Office was neither alerted to defendant's imminent arrest, nor given an opportunity to review the 17-page felony complaint in advance of it being filed with the court."
Hoovler requested a special prosecutor to oversee the case, citing a conflict of interest.
"Everything is wait until the evidence gets here," Weber said.
Investigators allege Holley and McDonald broke up a few days before her disappearance.
"We believe this crime was intimate partner violence. Additionally, Ed Holley owed Megan a substantial sum of money," State Police Capt. Joseph Kolek said last month.
Holley has been questioned four times since McDonald's death. He has always maintained his innocence.
"There's no nexus between him and whatever incident occurred," Weber said. "Don't jump to conclusions. There are other suspects."
Prosecutors have six months to indict Holley, or the case can be thrown out.
The next court appearance is scheduled for June 7.
