ECSO Has Solved 1998 Cold Case Murder. Here’s How They Did It.

March 6, 2024

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has solved the 1998 cold case murder of a man in a Winn Dixie parking lot.

Sheriff Chip Simmons announced Tuesday that Donald Holmes II will be charged for the murder.

Holmes, 44, is currently serving a 20 year sentence in a Florida State prison for a 2012 Escambia County home invasion robbery. He had been set for release in 2032.

Steven Davis was in his Yellow Cab (pictured below) leaving the parking lot of the Winn Dixie on Navy Boulevard about 4 a.m. on August 26, 1998, when he shot. He got out of his cab, collapsed in the parking lot and died.

Davis’ cab was later recovered near Navy Boulevard with an open driver’s door and rear passenger doors. The driver’s window was shattered.

New forensic technology was used to examine a bloody fingerprint (pictured below) found at the scene, Simons said Tuesday, leading to the identification of Holmes as the suspect.

“We knew the blood was Steven’s blood, but we couldn’t get the detail we needed from this particular fingerprint, but we tried,” Simmons said. “We tried not once, not twice, but three different times…because we weren’t able to get the details needed to form an adequate identification.”

“We tried one more time with some new training, but also new technology,” Sheriff Simmons added. “…That print put us at this individual right here.”

Photos courtesy Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

8 Responses to “ECSO Has Solved 1998 Cold Case Murder. Here’s How They Did It.”

  1. Grady Smith on March 11th, 2024 6:19 pm

    May he burn in Hell!

  2. misstrish on March 6th, 2024 8:50 pm

    Congrats to the cold case team!! Will you kindly take a look at the unsolved murder case of Anna Brown, Molino, FL? Thank you! Blessings. . . . .

  3. memyself&I on March 6th, 2024 5:41 pm

    Great work and dedication LEOs.
    Forensic science is awesome. Unless you are the bad guy!

    Hopefully, this brings some peace to the Davis family.

  4. Tom on March 6th, 2024 12:46 pm

    Good, give death penalty now

  5. Big Jim on March 6th, 2024 12:14 pm

    Well done! Thanks for not giving up, ECSO. Hopefully this results in a conviction and closure for the victim’s loved ones.

  6. Glad on March 6th, 2024 11:53 am

    Glad to keep that thug off the streets forever! EXCELLENT work ECSO!

  7. Gary Mondello on March 6th, 2024 10:33 am

    GREAT JOB! Thank you, Sheriff Simmons and your department, for all you do for our community!

  8. Whisperjet on March 6th, 2024 9:43 am

    Great news…I remember this case..Thanks LEO’s for not giving up on this one…this guy will never shoot anyone else..especially one shot while trying to make an honest living..

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News