Tennessee repeat felon in Rhodes College student’s 2021 murder learns fate
A repeat felon charged in connection with a Rhodes College student’s 2021 murder and home invasion has pleaded guilty and received his prison sentence. Rainess Holmes, now 40, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to serve 100% of a 20-year prison sentence, plus an additional nine years for three separate burglary cases.
Holmes, a career criminal with charges dating back to 2005, was one of four men who broke into a Memphis home housing several college students, including 22-year-old senior Andrew “Drew” Rainer, at 5:40 a.m. on Oct. 3, 2021, according to Shelby County court records. The surviving residents recounted to Memphis police that four men with hoodies drawn over their faces kicked in their door and demanded the students’ electronics.
Tragically, Rainer was told to type in the passcode to his iPad, and when he failed to do so, he was shot. The suspects then left the home with several phones, gaming systems, video games, and other electronics belonging to the victims. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found Rainer dead with a gunshot wound at the bottom of a staircase inside the home.
One of the residents of the home was able to track his iPad’s location to a hotel, where authorities established a perimeter and eventually tracked down Holmes. However, he managed to flee the area by jumping a drainage ditch. Holmes was briefly placed on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted list and was detained two days later on Oct. 5.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office stated that it worked closely with Rainer’s family throughout the legal process, and they were present in court and supportive of the outcome. While Holmes was not the suspect who fatally shot Rainer, Memphis police continue to search for the other three individuals involved in the home invasion and murder. Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to any additional arrests in the case.
A memorial fund named “Live Like Drew” was created in Rainer’s honor, describing him as someone who “loved with great intensity, and showed enormous courage and self-sacrifice.” He was an accomplished musician in an 80s rock band, an avid reader, an Eagle Scout, and a devoted member of the Catholic Church.
In a statement, Major Webb Kirkdoffer of the Memphis Police Department’s Homicide Bureau emphasized the importance of the public’s help in identifying the other individuals responsible for Rainer’s murder. Anyone with information is encouraged to come forward and assist in bringing justice to Rainer’s family and loved ones.
In conclusion, the tragic events surrounding Andrew Rainer’s murder serve as a reminder of the impact of senseless violence and the importance of seeking justice for victims and their families. It is crucial for the community to come together and support law enforcement efforts in bringing all perpetrators to account for their actions.
