In a quiet neighborhood in north St. Louis County, a dispute escalated into a fatal encounter that ended the life of 34-year-old Otis Adams. On a November day in 2015, Adams was found lying in a front yard with a single, fatal gunshot wound to his chest. The scene, which unfolded in front of a house, quickly transitioned from a heated argument to a homicide investigation.
Witnesses at the scene told officers from the St.
Louis County Police Department's North County Precinct that they had heard a man, later identified as 45-year-old Craig Hollman, threaten to kill Adams. According to these accounts, Hollman was seen holding a gun shortly before the shooting occurred. The investigation that followed led police to a critical piece of evidence that would solidify their case against the suspect.
Following the trail of information provided by witnesses, investigators discovered the firearm believed to be the murder weapon in an unusual hiding place: the washing machine at the home of Hollman's girlfriend. This discovery was pivotal in the case against Hollman, who resided on the 10400 block of Prince Drive.
Craig Hollman was taken into custody and subsequently faced serious charges for his alleged role in the death of Otis Adams. He was charged with first-degree murder and one other count. Following his arrest, Hollman was held on a $750,000, cash-only bond as he awaited legal proceedings for the shooting that silenced a voice in the community.
