In my words
The State had to prove it was me, beyond a reasonable doubt. These are the State’s own papers. Read them and ask yourself if they do that.
Donyell Dewayne Holland
The case for my innocence
Six points, each from the State’s own records
TBI excluded Donyell from the blood in Randall’s car.
The towel, trunk mat and board carry the blood of Unknown Male #1. Donyell and Derik Brown are both excluded. No sample from Randall was ever obtained, so the lab never said whether that blood is Randall’s.
Source: TBI Lab Case 201012860
Derik Brown was driving Randall’s car the day after Randall disappeared.
Coffee County deputies stopped Brown in Randall’s Mitsubishi Lancer on May 28, 2020. Brown admitted in his federal plea that a loaded 9mm found under the driver’s seat was his.
The two phones went in different directions.
Brown’s phone records place it toward Marion County, where Randall’s body was later found. The phone police attributed to Donyell stays in the Chattanooga area. A tower places a phone, not a person.
Source: Verizon and T-Mobile records
The State’s murder weapon was never examined by TBI.
“No examination was performed” on the SCCY pistol. Its swab was inconclusive. The bullet matched it on class characteristics only.
Donyell named Derik Brown in his first interview.
On June 9, 2020, on tape, he denied killing Randall and named Brown. He said it again in court during closing arguments and was removed.
Source: interview recording; trial audio
Brown hoped for a reduced federal sentence for helping on this case.
The State’s April 8, 2024 letter says Brown “is hoping to receive a downward departure for providing assistance to authorities regarding the homicide of Randall Leslie.” His federal plea agreement was filed September 13, 2024, after he testified.
Source: State letter, 4/8/2024; plea agreement
The Map: Where Brown’s Phone Went, Where Mine Stayed, Where Randall’s Cars and Body Were Found
Red line: Derik Brown’s phone, May 27 night to May 28 afternoon, from Verizon records. Blue dots: the towers that handled the phone police attributed to me, May 28, from T-Mobile records. Gold: Randall’s gold 2005 Pontiac Grand Am. Black: where Randall’s body was found. Tap any marker for the date and source.
Marker spots are placed at the town or road named in the record, so they are approximate. A cell tower places a phone, not a person.
Derik Brown’s federal plea agreement
United States v. Derik Adam Brown, No. 1:21-cr-00001 (E.D. Tenn.), Document 80, filed September 13, 2024. Brown pleads guilty to Count Two, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In the agreed facts he admits the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm found under the driver’s seat of the Mitsubishi Lancer was his, and that he told Det. Corey Stokes so in a June 1, 2020 interview at the Coffee County Jail.
Where the records disagree with each other
- The evidence report ends at Item 176, “END OF REPORT.” A later version adds Item 177. See both.
- Five records give five different sentence descriptions for one 1995 conviction. See Chapter 9.
- Case 311081 was dismissed January 15, 2025, nearly three months after sentencing on 317210. See Chapter 5.
- Counsel was appointed on November 21, 2024 “nunc pro tunc” back to April 10, 2024. See the order page.
Brown’s own words in his plea
In pictures
