– Searcy 38-year-old manslaughter Mayfair stabbing
– 10 years prison suspended credited 623 days jail.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A 38-year-old man from Searcy has been handed a 10-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of Bryan Holt at the Mayfair Hotel in 2020. However, six years of the sentence have been suspended, and the defendant has been given credit for the 623 days spent in jail.
Coty Cawein Summers, initially charged with first-degree murder, reached a plea deal last week. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a class C felony that carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
A 38-year-old man from Searcy has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the manslaughter of Bryan Holt at the Mayfair Hotel in 2020. Coty Cawein Summers, who was originally charged with first-degree murder, reached a plea deal last week. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a class C felony carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The prosecuting attorney, Becky McCoy, explained that Summers pled guilty to a section of the statute known as extreme emotional disturbance murder. This means that while Summers committed murder, it was a result of extreme emotional disturbance with a reasonable excuse, such as being involved in a physical altercation.
McCoy stated that the negotiated deal is a reasonable disposition based on the evidence that would have been presented to a jury. Summers received the maximum 10-year sentence, with six years suspended and four to be served. Arkansas law allows credit for time spent in jail prior to bonding out. The parole board will determine the actual duration of incarceration, but Summers will remain under supervision until 2034.
The incident occurred on December 15, 2020, when Holt was fatally stabbed. Summers was arrested in February 2021 in connection with the stabbing. Holt had sustained multiple stab wounds.
McCoy expressed sympathy for Holt’s family, stating that her office had met with them on numerous occasions during the three years the case was pending. She acknowledged the difficulty of their journey and offered thoughts and prayers.
The altercation took place at the Mayfair apartments on 101 N. Spring St. in Searcy. Officer John Stone, who responded to a call about a physical altercation in progress, found Holt slumped in a chair in the hallway, covered in blood with a stab wound on his neck. Summers was found lying outside Apartment No. 207.
One of the witnesses to the altercation tried to control the bleeding by applying pressure to Holt’s neck with a towel. Holt was taken to the Unity Health-White County Medical Center Emergency Room, where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to the witness, an argument broke out between Holt and Summers while they were visiting Summers’ apartment. Summers allegedly attacked Holt from behind a partition, causing Holt to exclaim that he had been stabbed. The witness claimed that there was no apparent reason for Summers to attack Holt, as they had been on friendly terms until the argument.
Another witness, residing in a nearby apartment, reported seeing Summers, Holt, and the first witness together in the hallway prior to the incident. They mentioned that the three individuals appeared to be getting along. However, approximately 30 to 45 minutes later, they heard a commotion and observed the first witness holding Holt, who was bleeding, while Summers leaned against the wall.
Prior to the stabbing, Summers had made threats to stab two other individuals. One threat was reported by a witness to the homicide, who claimed that Summers threatened a mutual acquaintance, believing they had stolen his phone. The other threat was made to a hotel resident two months before the incident.
The sentencing of Coty Cawein Summers brings some closure to the case, but the tragedy continues to impact Bryan Holt’s family. The community mourns the loss of a life and hopes for healing in the aftermath of this devastating event.
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Searcy 38-year-old sentenced to 10 years in prison for Mayfair stabbing death
Man receives 10-year prison term for fatal stabbing in Mayfair.
