Police: Assailant knew store

Web posted June 24, 1998

By Meghan Gourley

As investigators continue to search for clues to find who killed a Sam's Club manager, the only thing they know for sure is that the killer knew the victim and the store well.

Surveillance videotapes at the Sam's Club on Bobby Jones Expressway were taken from the cameras -- most likely by whoever abducted and killed 45-year-old David Holt, Chief Deputy Ronald Strength said.

``It was somebody who knew a lot about the store,'' he said.

The chief deputy said police are questioning employees and former employees of the store and haven't ruled out anyone.

Investigators from Georgia and South Carolina questioned people all day Tuesday, trying to shed light on the events leading up to Mr. Holt's death Sunday morning.

Mr. Holt was found dead in the trunk of his car when North Augusta officers responded to a car fire about 3 a.m. Sunday. Autopsy reports confirmed he died of smoke inhalation. Police say he was kidnapped after he left Sam's Club, where he activated the burglar alarm before leaving at about midnight.

About an hour later, the alarm was deactivated, but there was no evidence of a break-in. The chief deputy said the suspect likely abducted Mr. Holt, took him back to the store and forced him to open the safe, which was found open and empty the next morning. Authorities wouldn't say how much or what was taken.

Wal-Mart is offering a $25,000 reward for information in the killing, and Aiken County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward. Sam's Club is a division of Wal-Mart.

Chief Deputy Strength said the sheriff's department has received many calls, and investigators are checking out every one of them.

``Even the most insignificant detail may help us,'' he said.

Aiken officials said they haven't received any calls.

Mr. Holt, of Cayce, S.C., had worked for Wal-Mart six years and was employed at the Augusta Sam's Club three years.

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at State Street Baptist Church in Cayce with burial at Southland Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia, S.C.