A Michigan City man allegedly caused the death of a woman he described as his best friend because she didn’t approve of his heavy drinking.
According to the Michigan City PD, Thomas Holifield (59) and his victim Pamela Keltz (64) were once romantically involved, but even after that phase of their relationship ended, the two remained friends. Eventually, Holifield went on to rent space from Ms. Keltz, becoming her roommate. But their new situation was far from ideal.
Holifield told officers Keltz disapproved of his heavy drinking. The matter had become “a point of contention” between them, and he felt she “disrespected” him because of it. It was then, using reasoning skills that were absolutely not in any way impaired by the aforementioned heavy drinking, that Holifield decided the best way to handle his problem would be to kill Pamela Keltz.
In his initial attempts to poison her, Holifield put eye drops in the plastic Taco Bell cup Keltz habitually drank soda from, but they did not have the effect he desired. She suffered hallucinations and diarrhea but then recovered.
Instead of reconsidering the plan to kill his “best friend,” Holifield decided he just needed a stronger poison. Beginning in May, he started adding windshield washer fluid, which contained the poison methanol, directly to Keltz’s 2-liter bottles of soda. She became ill again, this time severely enough to go to the hospital. Keltz was treated and sent home – right back into the hands of the man who was covertly killing her.
Holifield continued adding more and more washer fluid to her drinks until his roommate was again forced to go to the hospital. She was in the intensive care unit at a Michigan City hospital on May 30th of last year when Holifield contacted police and confessed to poisoning her. Although doctors revised her treatment, unfortunately they were unable to save her. Pamela Keltz was removed from life support and died two days later.
Despite an almost-empty gallon of Champion windshield washer fluid, a funnel still setting on top of the bottle, and the residue of a blue liquid in Keltz’s Taco Bell cup (all of which were found during a police search of the residence) and his previous confession, Holifield pleaded not guilty when charged with Keltz’s murder.
His next appearance in court is set for January 20th.
Indiana Infamy 