Suicide suspected in death of former dentist

Published 12:00 am Monday, May 30, 2016

WOODVILLE — A former Natchez dentist who had his license suspended was found hanging in Wilkinson County Sunday afternoon.

The Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office and Wilkinson County Coroner Nolan Thompson were called to the scene of a hunting camp on Hackett Ford Road where they found Edwin Holt hanging by a rope in an apparent suicide.

“We are still investigating,” Thompson said. “It looks like it was a suicide, but we are not sure yet.”

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Thompson said officials would know more when they get the autopsy report. The report is expected to come on Tuesday.

Holt once owned Holt Dental Center on U.S. 61, which is now closed.

Court records show his suspension came after the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners investigated Holt’s practice in 2010 and found numerous violations.

The suspension was delayed because Holt agreed to complete an ethics course, suspend his practice for two three-week periods and drop a pending lawsuit against the state board.

The board found Holt violated the agreement by practicing during his suspension period. An Adams County Chancery Court Judge upheld Holt’s five-year suspension in July 2012.

In February 2014, the state Court of Appeals upheld the suspension.

Three counts against Holt alleged he sedated patients more than he was legally licensed to do by using sedatives Valium and Halcion.