Attempted murder is woman's guilty plea

One of two Jackson women accused of trying to kill Billie Davis, 58, of Jackson by setting her house on fire while she slept will serve time in prison for her role in the incident.

Juanita L. Holderbaugh, 29, of 842 E. Jackson Blvd., will be sentenced Oct. 25 for a Class B felony of attempted murder, which carries a range of punishment from five to 15 years in prison. Holderbaugh entered an "open plea," according to Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, meaning she made no agreement about the sentence she will receive.

Circuit Judge John P. Heisserer accepted the plea Monday and ordered the Board of Probation and Parole to conduct a presentence investigation.

Charges of arson and burglary were dropped.

According to Swingle, Holderbaugh admitted that she and Davis' daughter, Tara Y. McClanahan, 34, of 304 Tavy Drive, entered Davis' house at 724 Goodson Drive early on June 17, crept down the hallway and set fire to the curtains in the bedroom where Davis was sleeping.

As the fire spread through the bedroom, the two women fled, leaving Davis to die.

Jackson police officers Ryan Dooley and Tisha Hecht and other police and firefighters responded around 3 a.m. to a 911 call reporting the fire. The garage door was up and smoke was pouring from the house.

Davis was treated for smoke inhalation and burns at Saint Francis Medical Center.

Swingle said that Holderbaugh did not go into detail about a motive for the attempted murder.

"More details will undoubtedly come out at the trial of her co-defendant, Tara McClanahan," Swingle said.

McClanahan, who filed for a change of venue, will be tried in Mississippi County, A trial date has not yet been set.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160