A 28-year-old woman has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder and arson for her role in a brutal 2021 stabbing in North Charleston.
Woman Sentenced for Stabbing and Arson
Lyric Whitfield was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 12 years to be served and five years of probation following her release, according to Solicitor Scarlett A. Wilson. Whitfield has been in jail since her arrest in June 2021.
Whitfield and co-defendant Desiree Brown attacked Rondoshia Holmes on June 18, 2021, while Holmes was in a car driven by Brown. At the time, Holmes and Brown were married but separated. Prosecutors said Whitfield and Brown, who had met on a dating website, discussed harming Holmes.
Details of the Attack
Holmes, who believed she was being driven to a store, was attacked by Whitfield from behind, suffering 25 stab wounds. She attempted to flee from the moving vehicle, fracturing her arms in the process. Brown then stopped the car, continued the attack, and stole Holmes’ phone to prevent her from calling for help before leaving her in a dimly lit area.
A passerby later found Holmes and called emergency services.
Efforts to Destroy Evidence
After abandoning the victim, the defendants attempted to destroy evidence by setting Holmes’ vehicle on fire. Police recovered the car, which still contained blood from the attack. Investigators found evidence that the suspects had searched for news on the stabbing and discussed deleting their communications.
Co-Defendant’s Sentence
Desiree Brown, the co-defendant, pleaded guilty in August 2022 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her involvement in the crime.
