When Caitlin Mathis began her freshman year at the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, she broke up with Bryant. Bryant didn’t answer no. During the weeks leading up to Jackie Vandagriff’s death, he continued to appear on Caitlin’s campus in Denton and was arrested three times. Caitlin also filed a restraining order against him.
Ranger Holland believes that Bryant could not stand the rejection of his ex-girlfriend and that he was taking revenge on the next woman he could find who looked like Caitlin. That woman became Jackie Vandagriff.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if I really confused her at first … I saw her from behind and thought, ‘Man, my ex is here.’ And surprise, she’s not,” Ranger Holland said. “But I think in his mind all night I think that’s what he imagined.”