Sarasota man arrested on 1999 cold-case homicide

A 55-year-old Sarasota man is in jail with no bond allowed, charged with murder and other offenses in connection with a 1999 cold-case homicide and arson.

Image courtesy of Sarasota County Jail

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday announced the arrest of Kevin Holloway, with an address on 24th Street, in the death of Esco Hunter Jr.

Holloway was served an arrest warrant on Feb. 9, charging him with felony second degree murder, arson, and two counts of tampering with evidence.

On Nov. 30, 1999, deputies responded to a van on fire in the woods near Myrtle Street and North Orange Avenue. The vehicle was later identified as belonging to Hunter. 

The next day, deputies responded to the area of Central Avenue and 43rd Street, less than 1 mile from the burned vehicle, where Hunter’s body was discovered. The medical examiner’s office later determined the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and ruled the manner of death a homicide.

The sheriff’s office said cold-case investigators continued to review evidence, conduct interviews, and analyze forensic findings. As part of Sheriff Kurt Hoffman’s commitment to cold case resolution, detectives re‑examined witness statements, telephone records, and physical evidence, which ultimately led to the development of new and corroborating information. Investigators also credit the willingness of new witnesses to come forward, whose information provided critical insight.

The sheriff’s office said it worked in close partnership with the State Attorney’s Office and the District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office. This coordinated effort ensured a thorough review of evidence and reinforced the integrity of the case as it moved forward.