GUILTY MI - Ricky Holland, 7, Williamston, 1 July 2005

[Becba]

Every time a child goes missing we think of the parents and how devastating it has to be for them. When it is the parent that harms the child it is the ultimate betrayal. It hurts to think of the life this poor kid had. Lock up both parents and throw away the key.

 

[southcitymom]

Tearful judge: 'You threw away your child'

LANSING, Michigan (AP) -- A woman who hit her 7-year-old adopted son on the head with a hammer and didn't seek help while the boy slowly died was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without possibility of parole.


Lisa Holland, 33, was convicted in October of first-degree murder, and the sentence was mandatory.

Ingham County Circuit Judge Paula Manderfield choked back tears -- as she did earlier this month when sentencing Holland's husband, Tim Holland, to 30 to 60 years in prison for his role in the death of Ricky.

"Basically you buried your dog, but you threw away your child," Manderfield told Lisa Holland, citing trial testimony.


More at link

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/11/28/boy.slain.ap/index.html

 

[2beautifulboys]

This case sickens me to my core! That poor baby suffered horribly, he probably never knew a day of happiness or joy in his short life... Rotting in prison is too good for these two sub-humans. I hope they get theirs in a big way, I really hope that God punishes evil in ways we cannot even conceive of.

Run and play with Jesus now sweet Ricky, you are free and you are loved by our Lord and Savior!

 

[mum33004]

These people are filth, these so called parents...How dare you deceive people into believing that you want to adopt a child so he can have a better life and then you are so evil that you abuse and eventually kill this sweet little boy. Children are defenseless against adults. These people make me want to vomit...I hope they go to prison for life, but a better thought is the death penalty.

I couldn't agree more!!!!

 

[Bobbisangel]

This case sickens me to my core! That poor baby suffered horribly, he probably never knew a day of happiness or joy in his short life... Rotting in prison is too good for these two sub-humans. I hope they get theirs in a big way, I really hope that God punishes evil in ways we cannot even conceive of.

Run and play with Jesus now sweet Ricky, you are free and you are loved by our Lord and Savior!

This case still brings tears to my eyes. Just thinking of little Ricky and the horrsible life he lived at the hands of this couple makes me feel sick. I'm so glad that they will be in prison for the rest of their lives. Even if the father gets out in 30 years I hope that he never has any peace. Anyone that just stands by and does nothing while a child is tortured should be shot. Neither of them will be the prison favorites. I hope everyday they have to look over their shoulders and that the other inmates give them no peace at all.

 

[hipmamajen]

Saturday morning, Tim and Lisa Holland were video arraigned in the Ingham County Sheriff's Department on charges connected to the disappearance of their adoptive son Ricky.

Sorry, I'm not trying to be slow, but what does it mean to be video arraigned? I've never heard that term before.

Thanks!

 

[CyberLaw]

I don't know the exact details of the method used in the states but the "jest" of it is:

Instead of the "the alleged criminal appearing before a judge in person to hear the formal charges and enter a plea in person, a video hookup is set up in the jail, which is two way communication.

Say the person was "arrested" and charged with five counts, well the DA may decide to only proceed with three counts nad not proceed with the other two and those charges are read out in court.

Then the alleged criminal enters a plea. This is usually done when there is no hope in heck of bail, remand is a given(as he is in jail anyways), so the person will not have to be transported to the jail.

At arraignment in the appearance of the alleged criminal, the judge will decide if bail is warranted, with the DA stating their case for remand or the conditions of bail and the Defence stating their case for bail.

In video cases, the charges are so serious and evidence is good, or the person is in jail not only for these charges but for other outstanding charges, that all that is needed to be publically informed and entered are the charges and plea.

The person is not transported to the court, as really there is no need to do that. They will not be bailed as no terms are discussed.

The States may be different, but in Canada that is usually the case.

Say a person is charged with murder, the evidence against him is pretty good, there is no way that person is going to allowed out in the community while awaiting trial, and is in prison.

Well all that is need to be infomed of is that he is charged with first degree murder, the DA will "briefly" outline the evidence, the Defence will "put up a fuss", but in the end the person stays put behind bars until trial. So he enters a not guilty and knows that the DA is proceeding with First Degree murder. In the States it may also have something to do with distance in transportation also, I am not sure.

I hope I did not "muddy" the waters any, if so please PM me and I will clarify.

 

[Linda7NJ]

Twinkiesmom, I believe she was referring to adoptive subsides and foster care reimbursement. Both of those are tax exempt. As it should be.

:slap:
<<Originally Posted by Concernedperson
We are hearing way too much about adoptive parents and them killing the children or abusing them. >>

Adoption doesn't kill children. It just makes the news when this happens.

:slap:
<<Originally Posted by bykerladi
And the best part is that ALL THAT MONEY IS TAX FREE!!! That's right kids - money from adoptions and foster parenting is all TAX EXEMPT!!! >>

My husband's adoption benefits from his company were taxed at the regular income rate. You don't know what you're talking about.

 

[Marie]

Slain 7-Year-Old Interred After 2 Years

The body of a 7-year-boy slain nearly two years ago by his adoptive parents has been interred and the child mourned in private services.

The remains of Ricky Holland were placed in an aboveground vault on Friday. They had been kept in a laboratory while a legal dispute went on between his family and authorities.


At Lisa Holland's trial, Tim Holland testified that she struck Ricky's head with a hammer and had abused the boy for years by restraining him with ropes and not feeding him. The boy died in July 2005. Tim Holland dumped the body a game area in rural Ingham County and led authorities to the location in January 2006.


Lisa Holland, 35, is serving life without parole for a first-degree murder conviction. Tim Holland, 38, is serving between 30 and 60 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.


An agreement in April gave Medical Examiner Dean Sienko the power to make funeral arrangements and preserve Ricky's remains until Lisa and Tim Holland exhaust their criminal appeals.


Because Ricky's remains were placed in a vault, Sienko said they can been accessed if needed for further investigation.


The Hollands became Ricky's foster parents in 2000 and adopted him in 2003, the year after his biological parents' rights were terminated because of neglect.

 

[Bobbisangel]

So the Hollands have held up Ricky's buriel for two years? They are sickening and have no right to have any say so in how Ricky is buried. Why are they interested in him now when they didn't give a rip about that little boy when he was alive. I shouldn't be surprised at anything those two do after all of the lies they told when little Ricky was missing. They are never going to get out of prison so they need to just tend to their own business and let poor little Ricky rest in peace.

 

[hoppyfrog]

http://woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6632883

The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling ending the parental rights of a woman in prison for murdering her 7-year-old adopted son.

The three-member Court of Appeals, in an opinion released Friday, said Ingham County Family Judge Janelle Lawless was correct to take away Lisa Holland's parental rights to four other children. The children were living with Tim Holland's family and were to be available for adoption.
Three of the children -- two boys and a girl, all under 6 years old -- were Ricky's biological siblings and had been adopted by Lisa and Tim Holland. The other daughter was born to the Hollands the year before Ricky died.

Lisa Holland had argued that the court didn't need to end her parental rights because she'd arranged for her sister to care for the children during her imprisonment. Her attorney has said that, if she successfully appeals her conviction, Lisa Holland could care for the children in the future.

But the Court of Appeals said that the evidence showed that she had failed to provide proper care and custody for the children "by causing them extreme distress by murdering their sibling."

"The neglect and physical abuse inflicted upon Ricky was indicative of the neglect and abuse the other children would experience if returned to respondent's care," the court continued. "There was no evidence that terminating respondent's parental rights was clearly contrary to the children's best interests."

 

[Bobbisangel]

Well thank God. A judge with some common sense. I hope the kids are adopted into a loving home so that they can have a nurturing happy life.

 

[BethInAK]

The Hollands became Ricky's foster parents in 2000 and adopted him in 2003, the year after his biological parents' rights were terminated because of neglect.

This is so horribly ironic. Kid would have been far better off neglected.

 

[hoppyfrog]

http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2008/06/williamston_woman_who_killed_s.html

25 June 2008

The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld the murder conviction of a Williamston woman who was found guilty of killing her adopted 7-year-old son.

Lisa Holland says her 2006 trial in Ingham County should have been moved because media publicity deprived her of a fair trial. The 36-year-old also says evidence of Ricky Holland's cause of death and prior abuse against him shouldn't have been heard by jurors.

The appeals court disagreed in a unanimous ruling released Wednesday.
Lisa Holland is serving life without parole for the boy's 2005 death. Her husband is serving between 30 and 60 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Tim Holland testified his wife struck Ricky with a hammer and had abused the boy by restraining him with ropes and not feeding him.

 

[SewingDeb]

She thought the cause of death and prior abuse shouldn't have been entered into trial? That's just crazy!

 

[Bobbisangel]

Who could ever forget that beautiful little boy. Broke my heart to read how terrible his life was with those "adoptive" so called parents. I remember his asking the neighbors for something to eat and hiding so he wouldn't have to go home. Why someone didn't pick up on that is beyond me. Red flags should have shot up all over the neighborhood when it kept happening. I wish Ricky had told someone about the abuse by the so called parents. Bless his little heart.

That witch :furious: She shouldn't have even been able to appeal. That is such a joke...the rights of killers...bullchit. Hope she didn't really think any appeals judges would fall for that bunch of bull. She deserves nothing more than to sit her fat arse in prison for the rest of her life and then burn in hell.

If her husband hadn't turned on his wife he would have gotten the same sentence...which he should have. He knew what was going on and did nothing to stop that witch. I hope he dies before he ever gets the chance to breathe clean air again. Then he can burn in hell along with his wifey.

Weren't his parents or father abusive to Ricky too? Seems that is what I remember. If so, why no charges?

 

[imamaze]

Ricky Holland Deceased

Parents Convicted Of Ricky's Murder
Seven-year-old Ricky Holland was murdered by his parents. The state of Michigan has convicted Ricky's adopted mother and father of homicide, following the location of the boy's remains after more than six months of searching.

America's Most Wanted

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

It's been over ten years since the murder of Ricky Holland. He hasn't been forgotten; his death still stings.

Remembering Ricky Holland: Murdered Child Lingers in Hearts of Those Who Searched, Solved Crime

Then there were the neighbors' stories. Some had found Ricky in their kitchens, either eating or going through the refrigerator.

The boy wasn't being mischievous, the Wheelers said. He was starving.

That still angers Wriggelsworth. He said Ricky once told a surprised neighbor, "My mom doesn't feed me. I don't think she loves me very much."

"Can you imagine that?" Wriggelsworth said. "I mean that just punches anybody right in the gut. Who does that to a 7-year-old?"

Manderfield still is bothered by reports that during the investigation the Hollands buried their dog in their back yard. There even was a funeral.

"I think they got what they deserved," she said. "I remember commenting at (her) sentencing: "You buried your dog, but you threw away your child."

 

[Rayemonde]

I just learned about Ricky - what an absolutely tragic case
There is a good article here that details the police investigation, and why the police had trouble getting permission to remove the child of the children from the home even though they suspected the parents had murdered Ricky. They even managed to adopt another child whilst they were under investigation.

It looks like Ricky never had bipolar disorder or ADHD at all - the mother lied about him having symptoms and was very pushy about getting him on meds and in special education (probably a case of Munchausens by Proxy), but she hadn't bothered giving him any meds for about a year before she killed him.

After Ricky was dead, she started abusing one of the other children and the teacher reported bruises several times but even so it took LE a while to get the correct permissions to remove the children.

http://archive.freep.com/article/20071202/NEWS05/712020677/Introduction-Ricky-Holland-s-story

 

[scmom]

Very well done article from the link above. Poor little boy, may he rest in peace.