Patricia Ruth Holt, 57, has been charged with the first-degree murder of Carl Joseph Donaldson, 47, her former manager at Hutchins Trucking Yard, located just outside Dallas, Texas. The tragic event unfolded in late July, when Holt allegedly shot Donaldson in the head, leading to his death.
The circumstances surrounding the incident reflect a troubling history of aggression and violence, dating back nearly four decades to an attempted murder charge in her youth.
A History of Violent Behavior
Holt’s past is marked by violent incidents, with the most notable event occurring in 1986, when she was just 18 years old. At the time, she was a high school senior living in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook, New York. Holt became enraged after being removed from an English class due to behavioral problems.
Wielding a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, Holt entered the school with the apparent intent of confronting the teacher who had disciplined her. However, the teacher was not present at the time. Holt made her way to a faculty lounge, where she was tackled by two other teachers and disarmed without causing harm to anyone.
Holt was charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, and criminal trespass. She also faced a misdemeanor charge of weapon possession. However, due to her young age, Holt pleaded guilty to attempted assault and was sentenced to five years of probation, avoiding prison time.
Despite this legal consequence, it was clear that Holt’s aggression had not been adequately addressed, and her later actions suggest that the underlying issues remained unresolved.
A Pattern of Aggression and Defiance
After her release from probation, Holt moved to Florida and later to North Carolina, where she seemed to live a relatively quiet life. However, in June 2025, she began working at Hutchins Trucking Yard in North Texas.
It was here that her anger would again spiral out of control, culminating in the death of her boss, Carl Joseph Donaldson, just one month into her employment.
According to Donaldson’s widow, Holt displayed signs of volatility almost immediately. During her first week on the job, Holt was reprimanded for driving her big rig over the speed limit. In response, she reportedly became irate, insisting that she had been driving trucks for 30 years and did not need to be told how to do her job.
She stormed out of the office, continuing to yell and scream outside, despite Donaldson’s attempts to remain calm.
The troubling signs of Holt’s aggression only grew more apparent as time went on. Her behavior at work seemed to escalate, with Holt becoming increasingly unwilling to follow instructions or accept authority.
The Fatal Incident
The events leading up to the tragic shooting occurred in late July, when Holt allegedly became involved in a heated argument with a customer in Waco, Texas.
Donaldson reportedly told Holt that she needed to apologize to the customer and either pick up the load or empty the truck. Holt reportedly returned to Hutchins, but her anger had not subsided. According to the widow’s account, Holt got onto a tractor-trailer and began driving in circles, apparently targeting Donaldson.
In a desperate attempt to defuse the situation, Donaldson, a Purple Heart recipient, reportedly tried to intervene, even climbing onto the tractor-trailer to open the door and calm Holt down. However, what followed was a shocking and violent act.
The widow described hearing a loud “pop” before witnessing her husband being shot and thrown through the air. He fell to the ground, gravely injured, and later succumbed to his wounds.
A Slow-Speed Chase and Standoff
After the shooting, Holt allegedly fled the scene and led law enforcement on a slow-speed chase, which lasted for some time. Deputies were eventually able to deploy spike strips, bringing her vehicle to a stop. Holt then barricaded herself inside the cab of the truck for nearly four hours, before surrendering peacefully.
During her subsequent interview with law enforcement, Holt reportedly expressed a desire to end her life, citing “suicide by cop” as a possible outcome.
She also allegedly admitted that she had been “targeting” Donaldson for months, suggesting that her violent tendencies were simmering beneath the surface throughout her employment.
Statements from the Widow and Investigators
The widow of Carl Joseph Donaldson provided additional details about the behavior that led up to the shooting, painting a picture of a volatile and difficult employee. She described Holt’s refusal to accept any criticism or authority, despite repeated reminders about the rules of the road and safety regulations.
Holt’s outbursts, which included shouting and storming out of the office, were just one example of how her aggression had been building over time.
During the investigation, deputies reportedly transcribed Holt’s words, which suggested that she felt victimized and frustrated by what she described as “being messed with for too long.”
Holt’s statement that she had been plotting her revenge on Donaldson for months indicates a premeditated element to the crime, suggesting that the fatal shooting was not a spur-of-the-moment act but the result of months of simmering anger.
The Importance of Mental Health and Workplace Intervention
This case highlights several critical issues, including the importance of addressing mental health concerns early on and the role that workplace management can play in preventing violence.
Holt’s violent tendencies were evident long before the fatal incident, and it is possible that earlier intervention—whether through therapy, counseling, or a more intensive legal consequence for her past actions—could have prevented this tragedy.
Additionally, the case underscores the responsibility of employers to ensure that employees with known behavioral issues are monitored and given the support they need to perform their jobs safely.
Although Holt had a history of aggression, it appears that little was done to address these issues in her most recent employment, ultimately leading to a deadly confrontation.
Conclusion: A Pattern of Unchecked Rage
Patricia Ruth Holt’s actions, both in the past and leading up to the murder of Carl Joseph Donaldson, demonstrate a pattern of unchecked aggression and defiance that ultimately resulted in a senseless death.
While Holt’s past actions should have been a warning sign, the lack of effective intervention allowed her rage to fester, culminating in a tragedy that could have been prevented.
Holt now faces serious legal consequences, including a first-degree murder charge, and is being held in the Dallas County Jail on $1 million bail. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing violent tendencies and providing proper support to individuals who may pose a danger to themselves or others.
