By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The man accused of kidnapping his girlfriend two years ago, leading to her death on Mount Lemmon, has avoided a murder conviction for now.
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On Wednesday, Sept. 9, a jury said it was deadlocked on a first-degree murder charge for William Nathaniel Holloway III.
The 38-year-old Holloway was found not guilty on a kidnapping charge, but was convicted of unlawful imprisonment and unlawful flight from law enforcement.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Holloway kidnapped his girlfriend, Debra Murrieta, on Saturday, July 20, 2024.
The PCSD said Murrieta called 911 around 6:20 p.m. and said Holloway was driving erratically and would not let her out of the vehicle. She also said they were headed to Mount Lemmon.
According to the court documents, the 54-year-old Murrieta could be heard crying and begging Holloway to pull over and let her out.
Deputies caught up with Holloway, but he refused to stop and was able to swerve and avoid the spike strips PCSD placed on Catalina Highway.
Murrieta jumped out of the vehicle around 30 minutes after calling 911 and suffered fatal injuries.
Holloway was eventually stopped around 7:20 p.m. and was taken into custody. The PCSD said Holloway hit speeds as high as 45 mph while on Mount Lemmon.
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The PCSD said Holloway showed signs of impairment and drug paraphernalia was found in his vehicle.
Holloway said he and Murrieta had been living together but were having relationship issues.
He claimed he never saw any of the PCSD vehicles trying to pull him over but admitted Murrieta had been asking him to let her out.
Holloway admitted that he saw Murrieta jump from the vehicle but never stopped to check on her. He claimed he had taken around 20 fentanyl pills.
Holloway has a criminal history in Pima County dating back to 2008. He has convictions for armed robbery, third-degree burglary, attempted fraud, and trafficking stolen property.
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