Homeless veteran honored with military funeral

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. (WTVQ) – A homeless veteran, murder in Lexington a week and a half ago was laid to rest Friday with military honors.

James Holiness served in the U.S. Air Force. He was honorably discharged.

Holiness was found dead Wednesday morning, October 14th but Friday he was recognized as a veteran at the Kentucky Veteran’s Cemetery North in Williamstown.

As of Thursday night, Holiness had no known family members. The Fayette County Coroner’s office tracked down his sister in Louisville so she could attend the funeral. ABC 36 is told Holiness also has a nephew.

Other people who never met Holiness came to his funeral to pay their respects.

“I’m here to honor this U.S. veteran,” said David England with the Kentucky Patriot Guard. “No veteran should be laid to rest without the military honors and without the dignity that he earned while he was a U.S. Veteran.”

John Cawood is accused of the murder and abuse of a corpse. His case has been sent to a grand jury.