[citation needed] On March 3, 1934, John Dillinger escaped from the Lake County jail while Holley was serving as sheriff,[1] though fault likely lay with the prison warden and his officers.
[2] The press, as well as other officials, called attention to Holley's gender, saying it was the reason Dillinger managed to escape.
The Tulsa Daily World called Holley an excellent markswoman and quoted her as saying, "If I ever see John Dillinger again, I'll shoot him dead with my own pistol.
"[3] Later, Archibald McKinlay, a local historian and columnist, called Holley "courageous, determined, and remarkably resilient," indicating that these traits were necessary to endure the intense scrutiny following Dillinger's escape.
In 2017, The Historic Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point, Indiana put on a play about Lillian Holley's life called "Lillian", written by former Crown Point High School's art teacher and drama director Marion Kellum.