Orange County woman worries she may end up like Gabby Petito

Julie Holburn's cries for help have thus far been ignored.

Gabby Pettito with Brian Laundrie

Julie Holburn fears that she and her children will end up like Gabby Petito.

Her ex-husband, Bill Holburn, with whom she has two children, has shown a propensity for violence toward numerous people, but no one seems to care.

In a remarkable audio, the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) tell her that not only will they not investigate a restraining order violation, but they also won’t even take a police report.

The detective who speaks with Julie even said that this based on a directive from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) currently headed by Todd Spitzer.

Julie’s complaint stemmed from a custody exchange in which her children refused to go with their dad, so he proceeded to threaten Julie with jail.

I reached out to NBPD and OCDA but received no response.

Shortly after the incident, an NBPD detective sent Julie the following email.

Julie has had no relief from the courts, police, or the district attorney’s office.

Instead, both her and and her ex-husband have been dealing with a bizarre court order signed by a judge, Sandy Leal, since September 2021. That order awarded sole custody to the minor’s counsel, Tracy Willis.

I reached out to Tracy Willis, the minor’s counsel awarded sole custody, but I received no response. Julie and her ex-husband split seeing the children about fifty percent of the time.

Every time her kids are in his care, she fears for their lives. She has good reason since her ex-husband has a long history of abuse.

One doctor’s report stated as follows, “{Their son} stated that his father recently was talking to him about ‘religion’ and {their son} did not want to hear it so he covered his ears and made sounds so as to not hear dad. Dad became angry and told him to raise his head and listen. According to {their son} his dad then grabbed his left ear and hit him on the head (demonstrating an open hand slap on his head). {Their son} also said his grandmother was there and saw it and that his grandmother is ‘afraid’ of his dad.”

A letter written by a therapist in June 2021, stated in part, “This letter is being written on behalf of {their daughter} Holburn with her and her mother’s knowledge and with their permission. I am the family therapist and see her alone and with her brother. She has indicated to me that she does not like visiting with her dad because he is mean to her brother and hit their mom when they were running away from him.”

The same therapist wrote another email also in June 2021, what stated, “This is being written per his request and with his permission. {Their son} has told me that he will talk to any judge or person in charge about his wishes not to see his dad. The reason being that his dad choked him, is mean to him and hit his mom when they were trying to get away from him. He will turn 12 in two days.”

A doctor’s report described another graphic scene.

11yo girl… Has white discoloration without fall, noted about 1 month ago. No eye pain or joint pain. No vomiting, abdominal pain. Fully vaccinated. being grabbed forcefully by father over the forearms 'out of anger', last was March 2021. He used 'a lot of mean words' and has threatened to give 'us cigars so it stops our growth. Children back with mother as of today.

Mother reports father has pulled her hair and punched {their daughter} in the mouth causing a loose tooth which was reported to Costa Mesa PD on3/13/21.

This report continues, “Parents have been divorced since 2011. DCFS case has been opened and 'attorney general open because father has connections to DA' according to mother. DCFS worker Lisa Colburn and detective Fletcher (Newport Beach), who reportedly is father's friend. According to mother, complaints and restraining orders have been blocked by detective in the past.”

William Holburn has previously been represented by Kristin Bengfort and David Monarch; I reached out to both at their offices but received no response.

Detective Mike Fletcher has previously won awards. He won officer of the year in 2019.

But for Julie Holburn, he has been instrumental in the cover-up of abuse.

There was an incident which turned violent in March 2021 in Costa Mesa, California. When giving his statement, Bill Holburn told the officer to contact Mike Fletcher twice.

When Julie and her children were interviewed, their version of events was quite different.

About all that everyone agreed on about this incident- which occurred on March 21, 2021- was that Julie showed up to a custody exchange with her oldest son from a prior marriage. A confrontation arose and her oldest son, Andrew, beat up William Holburn.

Mr. Holburn said Julie and her son were the aggressors, while everyone else at the scene said William Holburn was the aggressor.

The CMPD officer who is wearing the body cam initially leaned toward charging William Holburn with violating a restraining order.

That never happened and it’s likely because CMPD then spoke to Detective Fletcher.

Julie told me that she withheld her children pending the next hearing- in June 2021- afraid for her children’s safety.

Detective had played a role in many of the confrontations between Julie and William Holburn. Here is part of an email from an NBPD officer.

In June 2021, Detective Fletcher submitted a declaration which led to an ex-parte warrant. The declaration suggested Julie was kidnapping her children.

Police showed up at Julie’s home in the morning to take her children. That warrant was signed by Judge Sandy Leal.

Judge Leal had just entered the case. Prior to that, Julie had physical custody of her children for approximately ten years after the marriage broke up.

Judge Leal reversed all that- including giving sole custody to the minor’s counsel- and she signed the warrant.

When her attorney addressed the court at the next hearing, he was shocked.

Why did OCDA send a directive to NBPD not to even take a police report for restraining order violations made by William Holburn? Why did William Holburn tell CMPD to contact Detective Fletcher about an incident which occurred in Costa Mesa and not in Newport Beach, where Fletcher is a cop? Why did Judge Leal issue this warrant and the unusual order granting sole custody to a minor’s counsel? These are all unanswered questions which numerous agencies and attorneys have refused to answer.

For now, a man with a history of violence continues to have unfettered access to his children. The police and the DA’s office refuse to do anything, and the court is siding with the abuser.

A voicemail left on Bill Holburn’s cell phone was left unreturned.

Post-Script

Check out the previous articles in this series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8. Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25. Part 26, and Part 27.

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