Eric Holland, age 57, was captured after fleeing from police on December 23 in a car stolen by him. Police discovered Richard P. Miller (65), the body of a disembodied man in the vehicle when it was being inventoried. They claim Miller was Holland’s friend.
According to his lawyer, a Las Vegas man was found in his car with an acquaintance’s body and head.
Eric Holland, 57, was found with three handguns and taped-up coolers with the body parts inside when he was stopped on December 23.
The head and body parts were found to belong to 65-year-old Richard P. Miller – an acquaintance of Holland, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, although they did not detail how they knew each other.
Giancarlo Pisci, the prosecutor, showed Miller’s head at a Las Vegas Regional Justice Center bail hearing on January 4. He said Holland had receipts for a powersaw, plastic bags made of construction material, tape and other items that were found on Holland after his arrest on December 23.
In court, Detective Tate Sanborn stated that surveillance video showed Holland purchasing the saw and other products at the store.
Bullets from at least one of the three guns from his car were found in Miller’s head and body – the Clark County Coroner said Miller died on the day Holland was arrested from multiple gunshot wounds, ruling the case a homicide.
Holland was wanted on charges of using another person’s ID, auto embezzlement of more than $3,500, intent to use a false check and theft of more than $3,500 when he was stopped by Metropolitan Police near the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino at around 3.42pm on December 23, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The suspect evaded police by jumping from the 2018 Toyota Tundra into another car, the 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche. After a lengthy chase, he was finally arrested.
Miller’s remains were discovered taped to coolers under the truck bed.
‘[An]Metro homicide Lieutenant Ray Spencer said that an officer found a head in one of the ice boxes and opened it up.
“It’s terrifying to find an actual human head in an ice box.
Holland was pictured at court on 28/12/2008. Holland is pictured in court on December 28.
David Westbrook (Holland’s public lawyer) argued that Holland wouldn’t lead police to second car during the chase if Holland had been convicted of murder, and that there was gruesome evidence inside.
Westbrook maintained that Miller was killed because the body was located in the Avalanche.
He admitted in court that Holland was ‘caught while fleeing from police’ and that he had committed several other crimes. However, he stated to reporters that Holland intended not to plead guilty.
Reporters outside of the courtroom heard Westbrook tell reporters that Hollan did not know what was in Avalanche and that Hollan intentionally led them to evidence.
“Why would he do this?” The defense lawyer asked.
Holland was denied bail by Judge Harmony Letizia. He stated that there is a ‘presumption that Holland has committed murder’, and that he had ‘proof’ to support his claim.
Holland’s lawyer asked Ricardo Auerbach (the police detective who discovered Miller’s detached skull) if he had obtained an appropriate warrant to search Avalanche prior to the discovery.
Auerbach stated that it is standard practice to inventorize the contents of stolen cars before they are impounded or towed away. He opened the cooler with the head when he detected a smell like decay or fish.
Sanborn stated that the warrant allowed for a deeper search.
The 4200 block Rochelle Avenue was where police caught the fleeing Holland officers.
Holland was first pulled over by police near the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, pictured
According to Newsweek, Pesci listed Holland’s lengthy list of convictions that date back to 1980 and were spread throughout the United States of Nevada, California, and Texas.
Since May 2019, his most recent warrant of arrest for identity theft, embezzlement and theft was issued. After posting $5,000 bail, he failed to show up at court.
He was sentenced to prison for the 2000 felony theft conviction in Las Vegas.
Holland was convicted of assault using a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and causing serious bodily injury in 1997.
In 1991, he was found guilty of attempted escape and aiding escape.