“11 Minutes”: Dateline Reports on Madison Holton Case May 17 2025

This Saturday, May 17, 2025, Dateline NBC airs a haunting new episode titled “11 Minutes”, premiering at 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT. Correspondent Josh Mankiewicz takes viewers to the small town of Eclectic, Alabama, where the sudden deaths of a former mayor and his estranged wife triggered one of the region’s most perplexing criminal investigations. What appeared to be a domestic dispute turned deadly within minutes of a police officer’s departure from the scene. The question remained: who was responsible?

The episode unpacks the shocking events of September 11, 2016, when former mayor Michael Holton and his estranged wife April were found with fatal gunshot wounds in the bedroom of Michael’s home. The only other person present at the time was their 17-year-old son, Jesse Madison Holton—known as Madison. As authorities scrambled to determine what occurred during the eleven-minute window between a police visit and a 911 call, the small community was left stunned and divided.

The Day of the Party and the First Police Response

Michael Holton was already at his breaking point when he returned home to find his house trashed after a party thrown by his teenage son. A concerned parent had tipped him off about drug use at the gathering. Separated from his wife April but still actively co-parenting Madison, Michael was struggling to manage their rebellious son amid a tense family dynamic.

In a desperate effort to assert control, Michael handcuffed Madison and called the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy David Jones responded to the call. Michael explained he had handcuffed his son to discipline him, and expressed his frustration to the deputy, asking how the court system could get involved. Jones saw no immediate threat or violence, gave instructions on how to file a report, and departed the residence at 4:48 p.m.

Just eleven minutes later, a neighbor called 911 reporting gunshots and a frantic Madison Holton seeking help. First responders arrived to find Michael Holton dead with a gunshot wound to the head and April critically wounded. She was rushed to the hospital but later died.

Crime Scene and Initial Theories

At first glance, investigators considered the possibility of a murder-suicide. The family had been under enormous emotional strain, and the bedroom scene suggested that a domestic dispute had escalated fatally. However, details soon emerged that cast doubt on this initial theory.

April Holton had been shot through the hand and head, indicating a potential attempt at self-defense. Michael’s gunshot wound was to the back of the head, a location inconsistent with self-inflicted gunfire. He was also right-handed, but the trajectory of the shot suggested it had been fired with the left. These inconsistencies led the coroner to rule the death a homicide, prompting investigators to shift focus.

Madison Holton, the only person in the house besides the victims, became the prime suspect.

Suspicion Turns to Madison Holton

Authorities began building a case against Madison. Although he claimed to have left the house to seek help after witnessing his father allegedly attacking his mother, his demeanor raised red flags. Sheriff Bill Franklin and others noted his seemingly detached attitude and unusual comments from jail, such as wondering how girls he had been with would react to him being labeled a murderer.

Madison also claimed he had requested a polygraph test multiple times to prove his innocence, though he was never given one. Investigators suggested he had freed himself from the handcuffs using a key found in the living room before allegedly carrying out the murders. However, there were no traces of blood or DNA on his clothing, and no direct forensic evidence tying him to the shootings.

Public opinion was divided. Some believed Madison was a cold-blooded killer; others saw him as a scapegoat in a confusing tragedy. His uncles, both with law enforcement backgrounds, were vocal in his defense, saying it was impossible that he could have committed the crime.

Alternate Theories and the Role of Mental Health

As the investigation deepened, a different narrative began to emerge. Madison described his father as emotionally unstable, especially over April’s new relationship. Madison recounted how his father had cried upon learning that April had moved on with someone else. In a letter to April found after the deaths, Michael wrote alarming statements: “I just can’t go on knowing that you are with somebody else” and “it was either me or the both of us.”

Michael was also found to have been under the influence of multiple prescription painkillers—hydrocodone, oxycodone, and tramadol—at the time of the incident. Evidence showed he had fresh scratches on his face and April’s fingernails contained Michael’s DNA, suggesting she had struggled with him. These details painted a picture of a man in psychological crisis.

Some family members, including Madison’s uncle Chris Owenby, theorized that Michael had killed April in a moment of emotional collapse and then turned the gun on himself.

Legal Outcome and Dropped Charges

Despite law enforcement’s belief in Madison’s guilt, the case against him began to unravel. Just before the trial, the district attorney announced they could not proceed. The forensic pathologist who had originally labeled Michael’s death a homicide was unwilling to testify with full certainty under oath.

Without sufficient proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the murder charges against Madison Holton were dismissed. However, the charges were not expunged entirely. Authorities left the door open for potential re-prosecution if new evidence comes to light in the future.

Madison, now free, has since expressed interest in becoming a defense attorney, using his own experience to help others who may face wrongful accusations. He remains cautious, believing that local law enforcement still views him with suspicion.

Aftermath and Ongoing Questions

The tragedy left the town of Eclectic grappling with more questions than answers. Two parents were dead, and their teenage son was left to live with the aftermath. For many, the truth about what happened in those eleven minutes remains elusive.

Dateline NBC’s “11 Minutes” offers a detailed and nuanced examination of a case where time, trauma, and interpretation have made justice difficult to define. Through interviews with family, friends, and law enforcement, the episode captures the complexity of a night that changed everything for the Holton family—and left a lasting imprint on an entire community.