Patricia Ruth Holt, 57, is facing a first-degree murder charge in Dallas County, Texas, following the fatal shooting of her then-manager, Carl Joseph Donaldson, 47, at Hutchins Trucking Yard in late July. This is not Holt’s first brush with the law. Almost 40 years ago, she was charged with attempted murder.
In 1986, Holt, then an 18-year-old high school senior in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York, brought a loaded 12-gauge shotgun to school. She was reportedly upset about being removed from an English class due to behavioral issues and seemed intent on confronting the teacher who had disciplined her. The teacher was not present, and Holt was disarmed and arrested by two other teachers in the faculty lounge. She was initially charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, criminal trespass, and misdemeanor possession of a weapon. She later pleaded guilty to attempted assault and received five years probation due to her young age.
Over the years, Holt relocated to Florida and then North Carolina. In June, she started working for the North Texas-based trucking company where the recent incident occurred. According to the victim’s widow, Holt was problematic from the beginning. She was reportedly reprimanded for speeding in her truck during her first week on the job and had to be reminded about road safety rules.
The fatal incident began in Waco, Texas, where Holt allegedly had a dispute with a customer. The victim reportedly instructed Holt to apologize to the customer and pick up the load or empty the truck and leave it in Waco. The widow stated that Holt returned with the truck, but once back in Hutchins, a Dallas suburb, she allegedly drove a tractor-trailer in circles before aiming it at Donaldson.
Donaldson, a Purple Heart recipient, attempted to defuse the situation by jumping on the tractor-trailer. However, he was shot and killed. Holt allegedly led law enforcement on a slow-speed chase before barricading herself in the vehicle for nearly four hours. She surrendered to the sheriff’s office at 8:55 p.m., Central Standard Time.
During an interview, Holt allegedly expressed a desire to end her life, either by suicide or “suicide by cop.” She also allegedly told investigators that she had been planning to kill Donaldson for months, despite her recent employment. Holt is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail on $1 million bail.