John Holmes was 26 and lived in Carol City, Florida. He was one of eight people attacked in a drug house in Carol City on July 27, 1977, when three men entered under the pretense of a robbery, tied up the occupants and shot them execution-style. Holmes was among the five victims who did not survive the assault.

The three attackers were identified as John Errol Ferguson, Marvin Francois, and Beauford White. Investigators tied them to a string of violent crimes in the area, and court proceedings charged all three with multiple counts including first-degree murder, attempted murder, and robbery. The case drew attention to the perpetrators’ histories: Ferguson was described as having longstanding criminal behavior and documented mental health issues; psychiatrists had earlier diagnosed him as dangerous and homicidal.