Bondurant woman sentenced to two years in prison after toddler's death
A Bondurant woman was sentenced to two years in prison Friday after admitting she left her 3-year-old son in a hot car while she was drinking.
Tiffani Huff Holmes, 42, pleaded guilty in July to involuntary manslaughter, an aggravated misdemeanor.
District Judge Samantha Gronewald gave the defendant the maximum sentence, denying the defense’s request for probation. She cited the child’s death and the “severe and lasting emotional harm” to everyone involved.
“You continued to consume alcohol in excess,” after the child’s death, the judge said before pronouncing sentence.
Ms. Huff Holmes called 911 on June 28, 2025, and told police she woke up and found her son, Myles, in the garage of her home. She initially lied to police about where she found him. Evidence showed that she had consumed alcohol before driving with three children, and after returning home, she forgot the 3-year-old in the car in the driveway while she continued to drink. Temperatures that day exceeded 90 degrees.
Ms. Huff Holmes told the court that she has completed inpatient and outpatient treatment, resided in a sober living home for a year, and regularly attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. She said she made a promise to her late son and others to change.
“I feel remorse, regret and pure hatred toward myself,” she told the judge.
Assistant County Attorney Nan Horvat acknowledged the defendant’s steps toward rehabilitation, but also noted that she had undergone treatment at least three times before the child’s death and continued to drink.
"Alcoholism is a terrible disease," she said. “On that summer day, you chose alcohol over Myles.”
The child’s father, Marcus Holmes, told the judge that he wants Ms. Huff Holmes to have a relationship with their other child if she can remain sober. He said he struggled with what the appropriate sentence should be and asked for accountability for Myles’ death.
“I begged her to stop drinking numerous times,” he said. “Instead of stopping, she became better at hiding it.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant County Attorney Nan Horvat, with assistance from Kayla McKee. The investigation was led by Deputy Haleigh Rees of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.