New Episode of 20/20 Looks Back At the Murder of an Eastern Iowa Army Nurse

A recent episode of ABC's 20/20 took a deep dive into the 2008 disappearance and murder of Holley Lynn James, an Iowa-native and army nurse stationed in North Carolina.

"You Took My Daughter"

Back in early September, ABC kicked off season 48 of 20/20, a long-running show that features "unforgettable, character-driven true crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports and in-depth coverage of high profile stories." Episode seven, which debuted on Friday, November 7th, was all about a woman named Holley Lynn James, who happens to have very strong ties to the state of Iowa. The summary of the episode, which is titled "You Took My Daughter," reads:

"When a dedicated Army nurse disappears, her father begins his own desperate search. Investigators discover a complex web of jealousy, violence and a Marine harboring dark secrets."

About Holley Lynn James

According to an online obituary, Holley Lynn James grew up in the small town Andrew, Iowa with her family. After retiring from the Army, her father Jesse James took a job as the Dean of Admissions at the University of Dubuque in 1994. Holley graduated from Dubuque's Stephen Hempstead High School, and then attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, where she earned a degree in nursing. Her obituary says that "in May 2007, she was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and was stationed as a nurse at Fort Bragg."

An article from CBS News says that, before moving to Fort Bragg, Holley had a son and daughter "with a longtime boyfriend." The kids split time between the two parents' homes while Holley was living in North Carolina. It was during that time that she was introduced to Marine Corporal John Wimunc, her future husband. It was actually her brother Beaux, a fellow Marine in John's unit, that introduced the two.

Holley's Disappearance

In July of 2008, Holley failed to show up for work at Womack Army Hospital, which took her coworkers by surprise. After being reported missing, investigators were shocked to discover that her apartment had been destroyed by a fire. But, that's not all they discovered. An article from ABC News reads:

"There was also disturbing evidence that violence had occurred there. There were missing knives from the kitchen, missing sheets from the bed, a missing chunk of the carpet had been cut out, blood splatter in her bedroom and a bullet hole in the closet door, according to investigators."

On top of all that, there was also an anonymous letter that said Holley took her own life, but the letter writer "tried to make it look like an accident."

The Investigation

There were a few different suspects at the beginning of the investigation, but detectives began to focus their attention on one in particular after a protective order that Holley filed several weeks before her death was uncovered. That protective order was against Marine Corporal John Wimunc, Holley's husband of a year, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune. After diving deeper into the couple's relationship, it became evident that there was a history of abuse, both verbal and physical. The incident that caused Holley to become estranged from her husband involved a gun. D.A. Billy West told CBS News during an episode of 48 Hours: NCIS:

"He produced a gun. He put it to his head and threatened suicide and then he put the gun to Holley's head -- and threatened to murder her."

Another name that quickly came up during the investigation of John Wimunc was Kyle Alden. Kyle was another Marine that worked with John, and the day before Holley's disappearance, he had been asking about borrowing a pickup truck. This was considered suspicious, because witnesses had told police that they saw someone flee Holley's apartment in a black pickup truck on the night she went missing.

While Kyle Alden was being interrogated by investigators, a call came in about a fire in a forest in Sneads Ferry. Sneads Ferry is more than 100 miles away from where Holley was last seen, but very close to another military base, Camp Lejeune. That's where Holley's body was discovered in a shallow grave. It had been set on fire.

Once Kyle was told that Holley's body had been found, the truth about her disappearance and murder began to spill out. He said that Holley's husband John asked him for some help, so he drove out to Fayetteville. When he arrived, John revealed that he had killed Holley and needed help moving her body. He helped load her into the pickup truck, and then John went back to set fire to the apartment to get rid of any evidence. They then drove all the way back Camp Lejeune, stopping in Sneads Ferry to bury her body and set it on fire.

The Charges

Kyle Alden ended up being charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, second-degree arson, and conspiracy to commit second-degree arson, while John Wimunc was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree arson, and conspiracy to commit second-degree arson. In a plea agreement, John plead guilty and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Kyle also plead guilty and served three years in prison.

After the discovery of her body, Holley was laid to rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Dubuque. Her father Jesse James has used his immense grief to bring awareness to domestic violence in the military and keep Holley's memory alive.

Watch the 2025 20/20 episode, "You Took My Daughter" HERE.

You can also watch the 2018 episode of "48 Hours: NCIS" about Holley Lynn James below:

Get our free mobile app

READ MORE: Check Out Some Beautiful Fall Photos From Iowa in 2025 [GALLERY]