The mother had suspect foul play when she saw her daughter on life support before her death and called on the police to reevaluate their conclusions.
A Tennessee man was sentenced earlier this week to two years in prison for the murder of his wife who died in July 2023.
On February 18, Donovan Holt, 33, was sentenced to two years in prison and eight years in community corrections in connection with the death of April Holt, 29.
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In November last year, he had plead guilty to tampering with evidence, false reporting, and reckless homicide. This came after he had confessed to the murder to police in September.
However, this was not the first time he had confessed to the killing of April.
Holt’s mother, Dickerson explained that she was always skeptical that her daughter’s death was a suicide, despite this being the prevailing theory from authorities.
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April was found unresponsive with a plastic bag around her neck and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department ruled it a suicide.
Holt did not die immediately and was taken to a hospital where she was put on life support. When Dickerson saw her daughter she said she knew her daughter’s wounds were not self-inflicted.
She saw April had bruises on her neck and ankles, as well as broken blood vessels on her cheeks and suspected foul play.
Speaking to People, the mother said that Donovan called her in June 2024 and admitted that he had strangled April, dragged her body to the shower and taped a bag over her head to make it appear it was a suicide.
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Dickerson recorded this conversation and then handed it to the authorities.
She also said that April had requested a divorce two weeks before she was killed. As well as this she had previously tried to leave Donovan in the past.
Earlier this week, the family of April said they agreed with the sentencing However Dickerson had her issues with the charges.
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She spoke to Fox 17 Nashville and said she was upset that Donovan had pleaded guilty because precluded the possibility that he would be charged with first-degree murder.
She said: "I was kind of shocked when they called and said he had pleaded guilty, because now those charges can't be upped.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence 24 hours a day to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247
Gerrard Kaonga