A pastor momentarily lost his composure during questioning by police investigators regarding accusations of abusing eight children at his residence.
Keith Lynn Holt, 58, from Blackwell’s House of Prayer, murmured under his breath, reclined in his chair, exhaled deeply, and crossed his legs, clearly displaying his irritation.
A trial is scheduled for February 25, 2025, in Kay County, Oklahoma, where he is facing three charges of child abuse and one charge of child neglect.
Here are some excerpts from the police interrogation of him and his wife, Candy Denise Holt, 53, conducted on January 17, 2024.
Authorities assert that the minors residing in the household endured significant mistreatment. One girl experienced bruises on her legs and arms, along with a black eye. A young boy alleged that Keith Holt assaulted him and pushed him down the stairs.
Documents indicate Candy Holt entered a plea of no contest to three charges of facilitating child abuse and one charge of child neglect. On December 13, she received a sentence of 10 years, but the judge decided to suspend nine of those years, meaning she will only serve one year in the Kay County Jail, with credit for time already served. She is required to provide a truthful testimony, according to the records.
In January, she acknowledged hitting one of the children when he was 4, and noted that her husband had spanked his two biological children, but she was clear that he never left any marks.
Authorities faced her as one of the girls displayed bruises on her legs and arms, along with a black eye.
She refuted seeing her husband hit them with wood, claiming he only used a belt. She chuckled at the accusation that one of the girls had been confined to a bathroom for three days.
Keith Holt stated that he never “corrected” specific children under his and his wife’s legal guardianship, as their mother opposed any form of corporal punishment for them.
The officer reported that the claims originated from the five older children, who indicated the board that had been located behind the television.