Rogers County Sheriff Responds To Mother's Claims Over Death Of Daughter

Lori Fullbright, News On 6

CLAREMORE, Oklahoma -- Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton says his investigators have gone over the case file of Carissa Holliday thoroughly and the facts confirm she died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in November of 2009.

"Our heart goes out to Carissa's mother, because no one should go through the pain of losing a child, especially a teenager and under these circumstances. It is easy to understand why it would be so hard to accept," Sheriff Walton said.

Two of Carissa's friends, who she was staying with, say they found her dead in their Rogers County mobile home when they returned from town.

Carissa's mother, Andrea Holliday, however, believes her daughter was murdered.

6/27/2011 Related Story: Claremore Mother Seeks Answers In Her Daughter's Mysterious Death

Sheriff's office investigators say they have no evidence of that.

As to Andrea Holliday's concern the gun wasn't fingerprinted after her daughter's death, Sheriff Walton says that is because it was covered in blood.

As to her concern that no gun residue tests were performed, the investigator for the District Attorney's office says OSBI has advised law enforcement such tests aren't reliable science.

As to the fact no autopsy was performed and that Carissa's death was ruled a suicide, Sheriff Walton says those decisions were not made by his office, but by the state Medical Examiner's Office.

Sheriff Walton says the facts of the case differ from several of the claims made in Andrea Holiday's book, which she wrote after her daughter's death.

The district attorney's investigator says his office has been reviewing the case at the request of Andrea Holliday and says there are rumors and theories but few facts to point to something other than a self inflicted gunshot wound.

He says Carissa was found in front of a mirror, which is common in suicides of teenage girls or people playing with a gun who accidentally shoot themselves.

He said he is waiting on cell phone records and once they come in, he will do one of two things, close the case for good or do further investigation.

Andrea Holliday wants her daughter's body exhumed for further investigation.