Donovan Ryan Holman, a 35-year-old Lexington man, was convicted last week by a Lexington County jury and sentenced to Life for the murder of Caldwell “Jay” Motley, Jr., (photo below) age 38, on Oak Ridge Lane in Lexington. Holman was also sentenced to thirty (30) years for Attempted Murder and twenty-five (25) years for Arson both to run concurrently with the Life sentence. Circuit Court Judge Scott Sprouse presided over this five-day trial and imposed these sentences. Under South Carolina law, the life sentence means that Holman will spend the rest of his natural life in prison and there is no possibility of parole.

Deputy Solicitor Rhonda W. Patterson and Assistant Solicitor Sam Jones prosecuted the case for the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Deputy Solicitor Patterson commented that “The sheer brutality of this attack left two families shattered. Hopefully, this verdict brings a measure of justice to the victims and the community.” This investigation was led by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Unit as well as the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and Lexington County Fire Services.

On July 20, 2024, Holman, the surviving victim, and others hung out at a local establishment. Once that establishment closed, the group relocated to the property of the surviving victim to continue partying at an outside shed. Holman was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time. Members of the group left and eventually Holman attacked the surviving victim who testified at trial that the last thing he remembered was being knocked out. Holman entered the home of the surviving victim where he encountered Caldwell, the surviving victim’s roommate. There was no indication during the investigation that Holman was aware that Caldwell was there. Caldwell was ultimately attacked and brutally stabbed over 126 times while in his home. The evidence presented showed that Holman used several different sharp instruments to inflict the deadly injuries sustained by Caldwell.

Holman ultimately fled the scene after stealing a car from one of the victims, but only after he set fire to the residence to conceal evidence. Emergency responders arrived shortly thereafter to extinguish the blaze and render medical treatment to both victims. During the attack on the surviving victim, Holman used an axe that resulted in a life-threatening injury to the surviving victim’s neck. The emergency personnels that treated the surviving victim were able to render aid that ultimately saved his life. He was transported to Prisma Health where he received treatment.

​Digital evidence presented during trial placed Holman on the property prior to the attacks, during the time of the attacks, and when the fire would have started. Forensic analysts testified that Holman’s DNA was also discovered on items left at the scene and on items believed to have been used during the attack. Holman’s latent prints were also left behind on items of evidence.

In the days following the crimes, Holman was believed to have fled South Carolina based on cell phone data placing him in two different states while law enforcement was actively searching for him. The U.S. Marshalls Fugitive Task Force ultimately apprehended Holman in Myrtle Beach on May 7, 2025.

​Holman has been transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to serve his life sentence.