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Texas man takes 10 years for murdering, then hiding wife's body
Houston man pleads guilty to 2020 murder of wife, Chi Thi Lien Le, whose body he stuffed in a freezer. Police records show a history of violence by Curtis Allen Holliday.
Published June 12, 2024 at 1:04pm by Alexis Simmerman
Houston Man Gets 10 Years for Murdering Wife, Hiding Body in Freezer
Houston, TX - Curtis Allen Holliday, 62, pleaded guilty to murdering his wife, 29-year-old Chi Thi Lien Le, and hiding her body in a freezer. Holliday took a plea deal, resulting in a 10-year prison sentence, including time served.
Curtis decided it was in his best interest, instead of risking a life sentence if the jury didn't agree with us, to take what was offered. He'll be out in time to continue to raise his daughter. - Dick DeGuerin, Holliday's defense attorney
A History of Abuse
Prior to the murder, Holliday had a history of assault and violence against Le. He was arrested on May 5, 2020, for violating a bond and protective order, with prior assaults on Le taking place in Nov. and Dec. of 2019. Le had been granted a no-contact order in Jan. 2020.
Le went missing in late April 2020, and her body was found wrapped in plastic in a commercial freezer on Holliday's business property. The autopsy report noted her body was "frozen with frost on the skin."
Chilling Letter Predicts Death
Le's fears are evident in a letter attributed to her:
If suddenly nobody can find me, or find me dead, please check my husband.
The letter also stated that Holliday had threatened Le "many times" and that she believed "he will murder [her]."
Defense Claims Suicide
Despite Holliday's guilty plea, his defense attorney maintains that Le's death was a suicide, and Holliday only pleaded guilty to avoid a potential life sentence.
We believe this was actually suicide, but he panicked after he found her. Instead of calling police, he put her in a freezer and that's bizarre. - Dick DeGuerin
Holliday is awaiting formal sentencing, which is scheduled for July 19.
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