By admin 
A Lexington man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing a man during an attack at a home on Oak Ridge Lane before attempting to burn down the residence, according to the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
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Donovan Ryan Holman, 35, was convicted last week by a Lexington County jury of murder, attempted murder and arson in connection with the July 20, 2024, attacks, according to a news release.
Circuit Court Judge Scott Sprouse sentenced Holman to life in prison for murder, along with 30 years for attempted murder and 25 years for arson. The sentences will run concurrently, the release said.
Under South Carolina law, Holman’s life sentence does not allow for parole.
The victim, Caldwell “Jay” Motley Jr., 38, was stabbed more than 126 times inside the home, according to the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Prosecutors said Holman used several sharp instruments during the attack.
The surviving victim testified that he had been with Holman and others at a local establishment before the group continued “partying at an outdoor shed at the victim’s property.” Holman, who prosecutors said was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, later attacked the surviving victim with an axe, causing a life-threatening neck injury, according to the release.
The surviving victim told jurors that the last thing he remembered was being knocked unconscious. Holman then entered the home, where he encountered Motley. Investigators found no indication that Holman knew Motley was inside.
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After the attacks, Holman allegedly stole a vehicle from one of the victims and set fire to the residence in an effort to conceal evidence, according to the release.
Emergency responders extinguished the fire and provided medical treatment. The surviving victim was taken to Prisma Health, where he was treated for his injuries.
Digital evidence placed Holman at the property before and during the attacks and around the time the fire began, prosecutors said. Forensic analysts also linked Holman’s DNA and fingerprints to items found at the scene and evidence believed to have been used in the attacks.
Cellphone data indicated that Holman fled South Carolina after the crimes and traveled through two other states while authorities searched for him. The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested him in Myrtle Beach on May 7, 2025.
Deputy Solicitor Rhonda W. Patterson and Assistant Solicitor Sam Jones prosecuted the case. Patterson said the attack’s “sheer brutality” left two families shattered and expressed hope that the verdict would bring justice to the victims and the community.
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