MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. -- For the past two-and-a-half years, Amber Holm has been working through the grief after her mom was murdered in Martin County.
“When you imagine losing somebody or a family member, you don’t in your wildest dreams imagine this is how it would be,” said Holm, who grew up in South Florida.
Holm is now opening up about her mom, Kimberly Gray, and how she was killed inside her Stuart home.
“I found out by a sheriff coming to my home in Oregon and letting me know my mom passed away, but he was unable to tell me how,” Holm said.
Holm hopped on a plane to Florida, and the details started to unravel. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office says in November 2016 Howard Terflinger shot his ex-girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself. Holm says her mom was leaving the relationship and trying to move on.
Holm, a mother of three, sought therapy after entering the home once the crime scene was cleared.
“I closed my eyes and saw the vision of my mom being killed every night for months after that,” she said. “I wish that Howard was still here to prosecute criminally.”
But Holm took her fight to circuit court in Martin County. The civil case went to trial this month, and the jury awarded Holm $20 million in damages.
“Anything that Mr. Terflinger may have, or had, is now subject to collection,” said Jeff Vastola, Holm’s attorney.
Vastola says a $20 million pay day is unlikely, but he hopes some good can come from this horrific murder.
“Maybe one person will decide not to do something violent because of this message that the jury sent,” Vastola said.
Holm is now on a mission launching a blog about performance and mindset nutrition, and helping others cope with loss.
“My advice to them is always the same, to give yourself grace and give yourself time,” Holm said.
