Daughter of Fred Melcher Identifies Burglar

A man shot dead while trespassing in a Slaton man’s home has been identified by the homeowner’s daughter according to KAMC 28. Deena Miller says the man’s name was Robert Holt, a 49 year old drifter that had lived with her father Fred Melcher for several months.

69-year-old Melcher and his girlfriend 51-year-old Edith Ayers were both shot after they walked in on Holt burglarizing Melcher’s home. Melcher shot Holt dead after a brief exchange of gunfire. Melcher was critically injured with a gunshot wound to the chest and Ayers was seriously injured with a gunshot wound in the stomach. They remain hospitalized.