A pastor in Blackwell, Oklahoma, is facing serious allegations of abusing children in his home, leading to a tense moment during a police interrogation. Keith Lynn Holt, 58, who leads the Blackwell’s House of Prayer, lost his composure while being questioned about claims that he had abused eight children under his care.
During the interrogation, Holt sat alone in the room, visibly frustrated. He muttered to himself, saying, “Wife turned against me. You’re the one who caused it,” before sighing heavily and crossing his legs.
Keith Holt is set to stand trial on February 25, 2025, in Kay County for three counts of child abuse and one count of child neglect. Investigators have shared troubling details about what allegedly happened inside the Holt household. One girl reportedly had bruises on her arms and legs and even a black eye. Another child, a boy, claimed that Holt punched him and threw him down a flight of stairs.
Keith’s wife, Candy Denise Holt, 53, has already faced legal consequences. On December 13, she pleaded no contest to three counts of enabling child abuse and one count of child neglect. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but the judge suspended nine of those years. This means she’ll only serve one year in Kay County Jail, with credit for time already served. As part of her plea deal, she agreed to testify truthfully.
Back in January, Candy admitted to hitting one of the children when he was just four years old. She also acknowledged that Keith spanked his two biological children but insisted he never left any marks. However, police pressed her on the severe injuries they observed in the children. When they mentioned one girl’s bruises and black eye, Candy expressed shock, denying that Keith had ever caused such harm.
Candy denied seeing her husband strike the children with a wooden object but admitted he used a belt for discipline. She even laughed when asked about a claim that one girl had been locked in a bathroom for three days, saying, “No, never happened.”
Keith Holt, on the other hand, denied physically punishing certain children in their care, stating it was against the biological mother’s wishes. When officers asked him about allegations that he beat the children with a wooden board, Holt appeared stunned. “Why would someone say that?” he asked, visibly shocked.
According to police, the allegations came from the older children in the household, who even provided the officers with the board they claimed was used, found hidden behind a TV.
The case has drawn significant attention in the community, raising concerns about the welfare of children and the responsibilities of guardians. As Keith Holt awaits his trial, the details emerging paint a grim picture of what life was like for the children in the care of the Blackwell pastor and his wife.
