One of two suspects in a November 2023 shooting at a Manitowoc apartment has had charges dropped

MANITOWOC – Charges have been dismissed against one of the suspects in a Nov. 4, 2023, Manitowoc apartment shooting.

Dianne L. Holder, 62, was charged with multiple felonies related to an incident in which Clarence L. Holder, 59, is suspected of posing as a FedEx driver to gain entrance to an apartment and shooting the apartment's resident.

The two were arrested Jan. 15 when Manitowoc police officers traveled to their residence in Indianapolis with a search warrant.

In a hearing April 24, Manitowoc Judge Mark Rohrer ruled the criminal complaint did not contain sufficient facts to prove Dianne Holder was involved in the incident as anything more than a bystander, and her charges were dismissed.

Clarence Holder's felony charges — attempted first-degree intentional homicide, attempted armed robbery with use of force, burglary and possession of a firearm while convicted of a felony — have not been dismissed.

He attended court May 3 and chose not to have a preliminary hearing. He entered not guilty pleas to all charges.

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According to the criminal complaint filed in Clarence Holder's case, he is suspected of entering a person's Manitowoc apartment posing as a FedEx delivery person. He asked the apartment resident to borrow a pen, then followed them inside the apartment and had a gun pointed at the resident when they turned back around.

The complaint states Clarence Holder then demanded the resident give him his "stuff" and, in response, the resident lunged at him. He shot the resident in their shoulder, but the resident was still able to push him out of their apartment and struck him multiple times in the head and face.

The victim told police they were yelling for help and were ultimately able to run away, but fell down a stairway, leading to injuries on their legs. They then left the apartment and fled into a nearby wooded area and called 911.

By using information obtained through Google, police were able to use location data for a device registered to Dianne Holder. The data showed the device traveling along Interstate 43 to Manitowoc, entering the driveway at the Viebahn Meadows Apartment Complex and remaining there for about 10 minutes. Then, the device traveled back to I-43, moving southbound.

The data led police to a number of gas stations, which had security camera footage of a suspect matching the description given by the victim and a woman traveling with him.

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The police then used information from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to find the vehicle was registered to Clarence Holder and photographs to identify Clarence and Dianne Holder from the security camera footage.

The complaint also showed Clarence Holder had been incarcerated on a federal murder conviction from 1985 to 2015.

Clarence Holder is still in custody at Manitowoc County Jail on a $1 million cash bond and his next court date is set for June 7.

Why we cover courts: This report is part of the Herald Times Reporter's mission to fulfill our obligation to follow criminal cases from arrest to their conclusion. The aim is to shine a light on the criminal justice process so readers can see how publicly funded law enforcement and courts function.

Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc judge dismisses charges against apartment shooting suspect