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00:00story time but i couldn't do it without him because i feel like it's wrong to only put out
00:09one side here we go okay so the story is that we are getting divorced because
00:17it was our decision it's my best friend i still love it to death like we still got a child together
00:23we still gonna be hanging out i'm probably gonna see it most days of the week but at the end of
00:29the day we got shit to do that's it you feel me she has a path to go i got a path to go but i pass
00:35to parallel july 28th 2023 a mother is found in her bathroom a plastic bag taped around her head
00:43police ruled it suicide within hours her seven-year-old son said otherwise he saw his
00:50parents fight he saw his mother's feet on the floor unmoving he was the first to find her lifeless body
00:56he told the police they ignored him the bruises dismissed the fingerprints on the bag never tested
01:06the man she had just filed for divorce from free and when her mother demanded answers
01:14the police silenced her a gag order a custody battle a year of injustice now ask yourself if this was
01:25your daughter your sister your mother would you believe it was suicide welcome to true crime story hq
01:33i thank you my viewers most especially my subscribers for your support as we keep improving and bringing
01:41daily told and untold true crime stories update please don't forget to subscribe to this channel
01:48april was born on july 6th 1994 in altamonte springs florida from the beginning her life was filled with
01:57potential she was raised in murfreesboro tennessee a place she would later call home
02:03the city located just outside nashville was a growing community with both suburban charm and urban
02:11opportunity it was here that she attended riverdale high school where she graduated in 2012 april had
02:19always been driven independent and deeply motivated she didn't just follow the traditional path she
02:26carved her own she saw beauty as an art form and turned that passion into a profession over the years
02:33she built a career as a lash technician working tirelessly to perfect her craft she didn't just
02:39provide services she educated others sharing tutorials tips and insights into the industry her expertise
02:48led her to become self-employed creating a brand that spoke to both beauty and empowerment
02:54but her impact stretched beyond her business april was known for her uplifting spirit and motivational
03:03messages she believed in manifestation in pushing forward through challenges and in speaking life into
03:10the things she wanted through tiktok she found a platform where she could share her wisdom with a
03:16growing audience you want to know the hardest part about being a christian not even being a christian
03:22being a enlightened spiritual being is listening to your spirit over your loud ass ego yes you're
03:30humanly mightily flesh that's loud and strong and has had power over our lives for majority of our life
03:39until we become enlightened with over 200 000 followers her page became a space for encouragement
03:46faith and personal growth she would post videos about self-care staying positive and finding strength
03:53in difficult moments in one video she said i just pray and send good energy to anybody who's seeing this
04:01i hope you have an amazing day on purpose be intentional grow just a little bit progress over perfection
04:08her life was about more than just surviving it was about thriving she worked hard for her children for her
04:16family for herself and despite the struggles she faced she never stopped believing that better days were ahead
04:23but even those who radiate the most positivity can be carrying burdens that others don't see
04:29april holt met donovan holt years before their lives would become entangled in tragedy their relationship
04:38started as a friendship one that blossomed into something more donovan was charming funny and seemingly
04:46devoted to her from the outside they were the perfect couple young ambitious and deeply in love
04:53as their relationship grew so did their family april had two children her daughter serenity from a previous
05:02relationship and her son denzel with donovan they built a home together and for a while it seemed like
05:09they had found happiness online their love story was one worth celebrating they posted affectionate videos
05:17played along with social media trends and shared glimpses of their relationship for the world to see
05:23april would praise her husband describing him as her best friend
05:28in one video the two sat together laughing as donovan admitted the secret to their marriage
05:34was friendship first
05:36if we weren't friends first we wouldn't have lasted
05:40he said april agreed she spoke of their bond their connection their ability to overcome challenges
05:48she made it clear that no matter what they were in this together
05:52but behind the social media filters and carefully curated moments reality looked much different
06:00those close to april knew that the relationship wasn't as picture perfect as it seemed
06:06there were financial struggles conflicts and long periods of separation at one point they even lived
06:14apart they tried to make it work tried to hold on to the idea that things would get better
06:20but some things don't heal with time in july 2023 just two weeks before her death april made a life-changing
06:29decision she filed for divorce she spoke openly about it saying that while the decision
06:36was difficult it was what they both needed we're not enemies she explained in a video
06:43he's still my best friend we're always going to be in each other's lives but we both need to grow in
06:48different ways story time but i couldn't do it without him because i feel like it's wrong to only put out
06:54one side here we go okay so the story is that we are getting divorced because it was our decision
07:04it's my best friend i still love it to death like we still got a child together we still gonna be hanging out
07:09all the time most days of the week but at the end of the day we got shit to do that's it
07:16you feel me she has a path to go i got a path to go but i passed the parallel and we always gonna be
07:22next to each other yeah and who's to say what's gonna happen in the future all that we know is right
07:26now right now it's the best i mean we're talking it's the best decision for both of us for her to do
07:32what she needs to do for me to do what i need to do so we can grow and heal and elevate no hard feelings
07:41this is not a messy divorce or anything like that we don't do that this is like i said like he said
07:46this is my best friend at the end of the day he has been before the relationship before the marriage
07:50before the kid so nothing's gonna check it's up look at her bro like i will never lose this forever
07:58so we're good y'all for real like for real for real promise y'all she didn't seem angry she wasn't
08:11bitter she was ready to move forward but not everyone was willing to let go and just 14 days
08:18later she was gone her mother jamie would later say that this wasn't a coincidence that the timing of
08:26her daughter's death wasn't random april had decided to leave and just like that her life was taken
08:34the morning of july 28th 2023 started like any other april holt woke up early the way she always did
08:46she had a routine make coffee sit down with her journal and set her intentions for the day
08:53she believed in starting her mornings with clarity using her words to manifest the life she wanted
09:00her seven-year-old son denzel was awake too he was her shadow always nearby always looking to her
09:09for guidance that morning she hugged him kissed him on the forehead and told him she loved him it was a
09:17simple moment one that should have been like any other but something was different april and donovan
09:24holt had been arguing more frequently their relationship once held together by love and
09:31friendship had fractured beyond repair the divorce she had filed for two weeks earlier was no longer just
09:38a conversation it was a reality as the morning passed their conversation turned into a heated exchange
09:46their apartment walls were thin and neighbors recalled muffled shouting inside denzel listened from his
09:54bedroom he didn't understand everything but he knew his parents weren't happy the voices grew louder
10:01the words sharper and then silence something wasn't right denzel standing just outside the bathroom lowered
10:13himself to the floor and peered under the door that's when he saw them two feet april's feet lying
10:20motionless on the floor a chill ran through his small body he didn't know what was happening but his
10:27mother wasn't standing anymore he ran to his room he waited a short time later donovan entered his tone
10:37much calmer now he got denzel dressed made him something to eat and sat with him at the table and then he
10:46said something that denzel would never forget go check on your mom denzel doing as he was told walked
10:53toward the bathroom he reached for the door handle but it was locked he paused then tried again the door
11:01opened and that's when he saw her his mother was on the floor a plastic bag was tightly taped around her
11:10head she wasn't moving she wasn't speaking something inside him screamed that this wasn't right
11:18denzel turned and ran the next moments were a blur a 911 call paramedics rushing in the hospital doors
11:28swinging open april was still breathing when they arrived but she had no brain function the doctors did
11:36everything they could but the damage had been done three days later on july 31st 2023 april holt was
11:47pronounced dead the medical examiner would later classify her death as a suicide but april's mother
11:54jamie dickerson knew that wasn't true when april holt was pronounced dead on july 31st 2023 the official
12:03explanation came swiftly the medical examiner's report stated that her death was suicide caused by
12:11complications of suffocation the police accepted this ruling without hesitation according to their
12:19investigation april had locked herself in the bathroom placed a plastic bag over her head and
12:24secured it with duct tape there were no immediate signs of a struggle no defensive wounds and no witnesses
12:31who could confirm otherwise case closed but the report contained inconsistencies inconsistencies that april's
12:42mother jamie dickerson would not ignore there were bruises on april's neck bruises on her ankles signs
12:51that did not match the police's explanation if april had taken her own life why were there pressure marks
12:58on her body if this had been a suicide why did it look like she had been restrained despite these
13:06red flags the authorities dismissed the possibility of foul play they pointed to a lack of direct eyewitnesses
13:14they noted that april and donovan were the only ones home when the incident happened and most
13:20importantly they accepted donovan's version of events without question his alibi he had been taking care
13:30of their son it was enough for them but it wasn't enough for jamie from the moment jamie saw her
13:37daughter in the hospital she knew something wasn't right she looked at april's body at the marks on her skin
13:45the bruises on her face and immediately her instincts told her this was no suicide she asked the doctors
13:52questions she pressed for details and every answer led to more questions jamie had known her daughter
14:01her entire life april had never expressed suicidal thoughts she had never hinted at wanting to harm herself
14:09if anything she was excited for her future she was getting out of her marriage she was
14:15focused on her business she was devoted to her children and one detail stood out more than
14:21anything else why would april use a plastic bag it was uncharacteristic it was something that didn't
14:28match the person jamie knew her daughter to be the authorities may have closed the case but jamie was just
14:35getting started and what she was about to uncover would change everything the case was closed too fast
14:42there were too many unanswered questions and most importantly april would never have done this to
14:49herself jamie wasn't going to let the investigation stop there if the police weren't going to search for
14:55the truth then she would do it herself her first step was requesting case files autopsy reports and police
15:04records she needed to see the details for herself and almost immediately she found a problem the plastic
15:13bag found around april's head the very object that ended her had never been tested for fingerprints
15:20why why would the police not analyze the most critical piece of evidence it didn't make sense then there was
15:27denzel's testimony the one voice that should have been heard from the beginning jamie sat with her grandson
15:34and listened as he described the final moments before his mother was found his words sent chills through
15:40her denzel spoke about what he believed happened to his mother i feel like my dad's the one who did
15:47everything i feel like my dad's the one who always made my mom mad or sad or a lot of other emotions
15:55he continued his voice trembling trying to put into words something no child should ever have to say
16:04i know that everyone in my family is sad mad and my dad he's pretty guilty my dad says stuff that he's
16:12not supposed to so i feel like i can't really be around him i don't feel like i can be around him jamie
16:20knew that a child doesn't make up something like that he had seen too much he had heard too much and
16:27yet his testimony was ignored but jamie wasn't about to stop she launched an online campaign spreading
16:35april's story across social media she reached out to journalists true crime creators and anyone
16:42willing to listen she demanded answers she demanded justice and then she got the breakthrough she
16:49had been waiting for months after april's death jamie finally got her hands on new forensic evidence
16:57and what she found confirmed her worst fears there was only one set of fingerprints on the plastic bag
17:05and the tape and they did not belong to april they belonged to donovan holt this was it the proof she
17:14needed but there was more jamie had the autopsy report reviewed by a medical expert someone who
17:21wasn't tied to the original police investigation and their conclusion april's bruises were not consistent
17:28with self-inflicted harm the marks on her neck ankles and face told a very different story
17:35a story of force april hadn't done this to herself jamie knew it and now she had proof but she wasn't going
17:45to stop there she had one more move to make she confronted donovan directly and this time
17:52she recorded the conversation what he admitted changed everything as jamie dickerson pushed forward
18:00with her investigation she became a problem for the authorities she was vocal she was relentless
18:07she refused to let april's case be forgotten she posted on social media every day detailing the
18:13inconsistencies in the investigation she shared forensic evidence her grandson's testimony and the lack of
18:19proper police work and then the police tried to silence her in a shocking move jamie was issued a
18:28gag order legally preventing her from speaking publicly about april's case she could no longer post
18:35updates she could no longer share evidence she could no longer talk about her own daughter's death
18:41the message was clear stop pushing for justice
18:44my name is jamie dickerson i have an eight-year gag order until my grandson is 18
18:57but jamie refused to be silenced in response she posted a photo of herself with tape over her mouth
19:04a simple yet powerful message every day she uploaded a similar photo and each time she counted the days
19:12day one day five day ten as long as they tried to silence her she would keep fighting and then
19:22something happened that the police couldn't ignore jamie had spent months gathering evidence she had
19:29witness statements forensic proof and her grandson's account but she needed one more thing
19:36she needed donovan to admit the truth so she confronted him in a recorded conversation she laid out everything
19:45she had the bruises the fingerprints the staged crime scene she told him she wasn't going to stop
19:53and that's when donovan broke he confessed he admitted to strangling april in anger he said they had been
20:00arguing that things had gotten out of control and then in a moment of rage he ended her life but he
20:09didn't stop there he staged the scene placing the plastic bag over her head and taping it tightly making it
20:16look like she had done it to herself he waited then he told their seven-year-old son to go check on her
20:24it was cold calculated heartless and now it was on tape jamie had everything she needed
20:33she took the recorded confession straight to the police there was no more denying it they had ignored
20:39her for months but now they had no choice the case was reopened with donovan's confession on record the
20:47medical examiner reviewed april's autopsy once again this time the cause of death was officially changed
20:54to homicide there was no more talk of suicide the crime was exactly what jamie had been saying all
21:01along murder on july 2024 donovan holt was arrested in san antonio texas he had fled tennessee trying to
21:11start over in a new state but jamie made sure he wouldn't escape justice he was extradited back to
21:18tennessee where he now faced serious charges reckless homicide evidence tampering false reporting
21:27for an entire year he had walked free for an entire year jamie had been ignored but now justice was
21:36finally in motion the next step his day in court the legal battle begins jamie fights to upgrade the
21:44charges from reckless homicide to first-degree murder hey guys so jamie dickerson here mother of april
21:53holt i made a post earlier i made a post earlier letting you guys know that her autopsy has been
21:58changed from the suicide to a homicide um i also want to update you that there has been an arrest
22:06uh the detective called me and did tell me that donovan holt has been arrested in the state of texas
22:13for the homicide of april holt he is being transported back to tennessee and so um
22:20um that is the update for now we do have him in handcuffs and he is being transported back so
22:29uh now we're just waiting for the next steps but i can't thank everybody enough for the prayers and
22:35support that we do get uh for our family uh none of it is a happy time um we never will get april back
22:44she's gone from this earth i won't see her again until i go to heaven um but getting justice for
22:51her wasn't an option for me as her mom it wasn't an option it was something that i absolutely had to
22:56do and i would have continued to fight for her until my last breath because that is what a mother's love
23:03will do for her children and i miss her every second of every day and so do her children
23:09and just knowing that there is justice for her is a huge relief and so please continue to just keep
23:18our family in your prayers the heartache and grief never goes away and i will keep you updated on any
23:23other case developments um that will be coming all right guys so i just wanted to let you guys know
23:29there has been an arrest for the homicide of my daughter will donovan face the maximum penalty or will
23:36the justice system fail april again after donovan holtz arrest april holtz family expected justice to
23:43come swiftly but the battle was far from over denzel april's seven-year-old son made it clear he didn't
23:51want to go back to his father he had seen too much heard too much in his mind the man who was supposed
23:59to protect him was the same man responsible for his mother's death jamie dickerson his grandmother
24:05fought for full custody determined to keep him safe but the court ruled otherwise despite the overwhelming
24:13evidence against donovan the judge initially granted shared custody forcing jamie to hand denzel over to the
24:20very man he feared it was a devastating blow jamie had spent months uncovering the truth only to find
24:28herself back in court fighting another battle and then the gag order came jamie had been one of the
24:37loudest voices in april's case her persistence had led to donovan's confession and arrest but authorities
24:45wanted her to stop talking she was legally barred from discussing the case publicly silenced from
24:51sharing updates and prevented from speaking out against the legal decisions being made but the
24:57public was watching april's case had gained national attention and the outrage was growing people saw the
25:05injustice unfolding in real time and they weren't willing to stay silent a petition was launched demanding
25:12that donovan's charges be upgraded from reckless homicide to first-degree murder the argument was
25:19simple this wasn't an accident it wasn't a moment of recklessness donovan had staged the scene manipulated
25:27evidence and walked free for a year this was calculated this was murder the petition quickly gained
25:36traction thousands of signatures poured in calling for the legal system to hold donovan fully accountable
25:44and though jamie couldn't speak publicly her supporters made sure april's story wasn't forgotten
25:51in late 2024 a trial date was finally set for 2025 donovan remained in custody awaiting trial the question now was
26:02would the justice system finally do right by april will donovan be convicted will the charges be increased
26:09and most importantly will april's family finally get the justice they have fought so hard for
26:16april holt's life was taken too soon but her story did not end with her death the fight for justice
26:23extended beyond the courtroom beyond the headlines it became a movement one that her family was determined to
26:30carry forward for april's children the loss was immeasurable serenity her daughter struggled to
26:39understand why her mother was gone and why justice was taking so long she decided to take matters into her
26:46own hands in the only way she knew how she wrote a letter to the district attorney pleading for justice in her
26:54own words she expressed the pain of losing her mother and the deep need for accountability
27:00it was a simple yet powerful act
27:03one that showed the world that april's children were not just bystanders in this fight
27:09denzel and serenity also found a way to honor their mother's legacy of kindness
27:14they launched a charity project in her name calling it hugs from heaven
27:19a tribute to the warmth and love their mother was known for they collected blankets and distributed
27:26them to the elderly the homeless and children in need for them it was more than just an act of
27:32kindness it was a way to keep april's spirit alive jamie despite the ongoing legal battle refused to
27:41stay silent even under a gag order she found ways to advocate for domestic violence victims
27:48using april's story to highlight the dangers of ignoring red flags in relationships and the
27:53failures of the justice system she connected with other grieving families those who had also lost
28:00loved ones under suspicious circumstances and together they pushed for change april's case became a
28:08symbol of something larger a reminder of why questioning initial police rulings is crucial her death
28:15death was almost swept under the rug as a suicide a tragic but closed case
28:21if it weren't for jamie's persistence donovan holt would still be free how many other cases had been ruled
28:28incorrectly how many other families had been told to accept the unacceptable
28:33this case exposed the challenges families face when law enforcement fails to investigate properly
28:39from ignored evidence to delayed justice jamie had to fight a system that seemed more focused on closing
28:46a case than uncovering the truth no family should have to do this alone and that's where viewers come in
28:55the fight for justice doesn't end with april there are ways to help signing petitions sharing stories
29:02and spreading awareness can put pressure on authorities to take action cases like april's show that the
29:09power of a determined voice can change everything april holt's story was one of love resilience and
29:17injustice but it is also a story of hope through her family through the people fighting for her her name
29:25will not be forgotten the final trial will the justice system finally deliver the verdict april deserves
29:34and will donovan holt face the full consequences of his actions april holt was more than just a name in
29:43a police report more than a headline more than a tragic case she was a mother a daughter a friend and a woman
29:52with dreams that were stolen from her her story should have never ended this way april was more than
30:00just a headline she was a mother a daughter a friend and thanks to her mother's fight her story is finally
30:07being told if you want to see more cases like this brought to light make sure to subscribe hit the like
30:15button and share this video the more voices we have the harder it is for the truth to be ignored
30:21thank you for watching stay safe stay aware and never stop fighting for justice