Jamie Dickerson’s life changed forever on July 31, 2023, when her 29-year-old daughter, April Holt, a popular TikTok personality with over 200,000 followers, was found unconscious in her Nashville home. Holt was discovered with a plastic bag duct-taped tightly around her neck, and despite being rushed to the hospital, she was pronounced dead later that same day. Initially, authorities, including the Metro Nashville Police Department and local prosecutors, ruled Holt’s death a suicide following an autopsy report. But from the moment she received the news, Dickerson had doubts about the conclusion. Her determination to seek justice led to the arrest of Holt’s husband, Donovan Holt. “I got up, marched out of that room, and said, ‘I’m not done, I’m going to keep investigating,’” Dickerson told WSMV in an interview.
Suspicion leads to a breakthrough
From the start, Dickerson had her suspicions. Just weeks after her daughter’s death, her grandson revealed to her that he had witnessed April and Donovan fighting on the day of her death. Dickerson also uncovered that Donovan had pawned his wedding ring just days before the tragic event. When Donovan called Dickerson to inform her of April’s condition, she immediately found his behavior odd. “He was upset — kind of like a panic upset,” Dickerson explained. “He said, ‘We found April, she wasn’t breathing, and she’s in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.’” At the hospital, Donovan’s behavior continued to raise red flags. He left all the medical decisions to Dickerson and appeared detached, pacing and rocking back and forth.
A mother’s determination to uncover the truth
Despite the case being closed as a suicide, Dickerson refused to accept the findings. She spent hours each day pouring over police reports and autopsy details, uncovering crucial evidence that she believed had been overlooked.
“They said she didn’t have any signs of trauma even though she had bruises,” she explained. “The autopsy stated she had bruises on her neck, thighs, ankles, and even a gash on her inner thigh.” Determined to get answers, Dickerson met with prosecutors, filed complaints, and eventually pushed the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) to launch an internal investigation. The result was a 47-page report, which revealed two of Donovan Holt’s fingerprints on the duct tape used in the scene.
The confession and arrest
Dickerson’s persistence eventually led to a confrontation with Donovan. “I said, you can tell me the truth, or I am going to go meet with the cold case team next Thursday and have this reopened,” she recalled.
To her shock, Donovan confessed in full. “He just goes into how he killed her and described how he killed her,” Dickerson said. “How he strangled her, dragged her to the shower, and then put the bag over her head and taped it so it would look like a suicide.” On September 20, 2024, the MNPD announced Donovan Holt’s arrest in San Antonio, Texas, following his confession.
The 33-year-old was indicted by a grand jury for reckless homicide, evidence tampering, and false reporting. He is expected to be extradited to Nashville to face charges.
A mother’s fight for justice
Though Donovan Holt is now behind bars, Jamie Dickerson’s fight is far from over. She is continuing her efforts to have the charges against him elevated from reckless homicide to first-degree murder. As the case unfolds, Dickerson’s relentless pursuit of the truth stands as a testament to a mother’s unwavering love and determination to seek justice for her daughter.
