I want to state briefly before I post this first part of my summary, that Holly had mental health issues and substance abuse issues she struggled with, her death was a result of drowning, but not officially declared accidental or purposely by homicide, the case remained open until 2014, until it was closed at the request of a family member in order to see what information the police had gathered.
Let's Begin,
I’m going to lay out everything that I know about the case of Holly Metzger-Carruthers this is part one of my summary, Holly was officially declared missing by law enforcement on December 17[SUP]th[/SUP], 2007, though we are going to go through the night of December 16[SUP]th[/SUP] 2007, where the events transpired. On the night of 12/16/07, which Holly went missing, she was expecting a visit from her estranged husband Thomas Carruthers, to provide her with some gas money and a few groceries, this was before her first trip to Walmart, they had been communicating by cellphone. Both of Holly’s children were home, it was Sunday and they had school the next day. Holly made a trip to Walmart, and returned home around 2100 hours, dropped off some random items and told her children she was returning to Walmart one last time, as Holly left for Walmart, her estranged husband Thomas arrived to the apartment and dropped off snacks (Slim Jim’s, Jone’s Potato Chips, and two Mountain Dew bottles) to their son (It is to be noted that Thomas Carruthers is her son’s biological father), and stated that he was leaving for Indiana that night for work. Holly called from a blocked number which read “UNKNOWN CALLER” to her apartment in Lexington, around 2300 hours close to midnight possibly, Holly told her son that she was going to be out late, and instructed him to tell his younger sister to go to bed, and that he should go to bed and she will be home around 0200 hours there were no other details she provided to her son. This is the last time Holly’s son would ever hear from his mother.
The next morning (12/17/07), her son was awoken by his step-father, Holly’s ex-husband, Philip Metzger around 0700 hours, he had regular access to the apartment, as Holly’s youngest daughter was Philip’s biological daughter and though they were divorced, Philip was very active in her life, and would come get her ready for school as Holly worked very early, and did not have time to get the children ready for school. Philip asked Holly’s son where was his mother, and he replied, “She didn’t come home”, Philip replied, “What do you mean she didn’t come home?” almost flabbergasted, and appalled that she didn’t come home when her children had school and Holly had a job. Philip asked Holly’s son if he was going to school, her son stated,” No, I am not feeling well”, and he rolled over and went back to sleep. Philip left the apartment, and took Holly’s daughter to school.
Around 0900-1000 hours, Holly’s son woke up, got out of bed, and step up his video game system in the living room, it was around this time, that Holly’s son received a call from a Park Ranger with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources stating that he had found Holly’s vehicle on the side of the road with Holly nowhere to be seen, immediately alarmed, Holly’s son called his father, Thomas Carruthers, who stated he will call him back (Who stated he was in Indiana) after Holly’s son broke the news of her vehicle being found. Then over the next hour, her son received calls from Lt. Hoffer with the Lexington Police Department, Philip Metzger, and Ruth Domka, Holly’s grandmother all concerned about Holly’s whereabouts.
Holly’s son (Andrew) was the first person to ever be interviewed by law enforcement officials, Andrew gave Lt. Hoffer all the information he knew of his mother’s disappearance, and then was bombarded by telephone calls of concerned family members, which kind of irritated Lt. Hoffer as he was just trying to take the initial report. Andrew was eventually picked up by Thomas Carruthers, where he would spend two months with before Philip Metzger (Legal Father) and Donald Jones (Holly’s brother) has law enforcement take Andrew from Thomas’ custody in Bellville, Ohio. (Around January-February)
From February to March, Andrew would suffer verbal and emotional abuse from his stepfather, Philip Metzger, who has custody of Holly’s children in her absence, nothing major occurred in the case at this time until March of 2008, when Holly’s body was found in Mohican River.