Ricky Holland Vanished

I just had this thought while I was writing this entry. I wonder if the Hollands unburied Ricky at the time they notified the Sheriff that they were burying the family dog. I don’t know if the Sheriff brought body sniffing dogs when they dug up the yard to check and see if the dog was buried. It was just a thought.

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Since we now know that Tim and Lisa Holland have confessed to having knowledge of Ricky’s murder I decided to revisit two comments that were sent to me that I have previously blogged about.This first comment is from someone who claimed to be a close friend of Tim and Lisa Holland’s. I am posting that message in it’s entirety in this blog entry. Initially I thought it was a revealing glimpse into what was happening in the investigation. Now, I realize it is a more revealing glimpse at just how well the Hollands tried to extract sympathy from their closest friend.

I will also be making comments below the quoted material. My comments will appear below the block quotes.

“I want to let you know some information that is not being revealed by the Ingham County Sheriffs Department concerning the investigation into the disappearance of Ricky Holland. First, when the Ingham County Sheriffs Department responded initially to the Hollands’ call for help to find their missing son, a deputy requested more officers and a detective to search the neighborhood. The Ingham County Sheriffs Department Dispatch responded back to the requesting officer that they were too BUSY and the last two times they came out to the residence, he (Ricky) was hiding in the trees. The requesting officer was told that no additional help would be forthcoming and the officer should direct his attention to the trees near their residence. It was nothing for the Ingham County Sheriffs deputy to be concerned about. (…)”

Since we now know that the Hollands lied to law enforcement from the very beginning, since we now know Ricky was never really missing by the Hollands own admission in court I find it doubtful that the above scenario really happened. Your friend, Tim Holland, is a proven liar and now possibly a murderer.

“…Second, no AMBER ALERT was issued immediately. The Hollands were informed that their son met the criteria for an amber alert. The ALERT was finally issued 16 hours after their son had initially went [sic] missing. This was only done after the Hollands begged and pleaded with the Ingham County Sheriffs Department to have an AMBER ALERT issued. (…)”

The news sources state that the reason the AMBER ALERT was finally issued was to locate the biological mother, and that was accomplished.

I can just picture the Hollands playing out their drama to law enforcement trying to get them to believe that most likely the biological mother with sinister motives kidnapped her child. We now know that an Amber Alert would have been totally a waste of vital resources. Shame on the Hollands for perpetuating the charade to this level to cover their crime of murder.

“…Third, the Hollands were told to stay at home by the Chief Deputy. The Ingham County Sheriffs Department would keep the family informed as to what transpired in the search for their son. Does this seem unusual? It does to me. What PARENT in their right minds would not strike out on their own to find their missing child? The Hollands took this as an odd request since Mr. Holland, an Intelligence Officer for the U.S. Army, had offered to help the command center in anyway that he could to find his missing son. Mr. Holland had to insist that he be allowed to search for his son. (…)”

Perhaps the Chief Deputy could tell that the Hollands’ story of their missing child did not ring true. Perhaps law enforcement wanted the Hollands somewhere that they could watch them. Most likely they wanted Tim to stay away from the command center. Most likely law enforcement wanted to keep Tim from directing the investigation to suit his own ends.

“…Fourth, a bloodhound team came to the Holland home after the ground search had ended and tracked their son’s scent to a McDonald’s in Perry, Michigan. This is where his scent dissipated. The Ingham County Sheriffs Department totally discounted this as factual, since they did not have a deputy with the bloodhound team. However, the bloodhound team had requested that a [sic] Ingham County Sheriffs Deputy accompany them prior to them beginning to track the Holland’s missing son. (…)”

Since Tim Holland is in Army Intelligence perhaps he was able to set up all of the scents to orchestrate the search for Ricky. There was even a point where the Hollands supplied the tennis shoes that matched the tracks found near the McDonald’s in Perry, Michigan. We now know that the Hollands would have gone to any lengths to hide their crime, even to the point of Lisa visiting various stores to view surveillance tapes.

“…The Sheriffs department has (and continues) to display a complete lack of compassion and a great degree of ineptitude. Your county should be proud as to how they are wasting your tax dollars and tormenting an innocent family which now suffers the indignity of being victimized by the people who are here to “Serve and Protect”. (…)”

I don’t live in Ingham County; I do not even live in the state of Michigan. Since this case has broken and the truth has begun to be revealed I would be proud to be a citizen in Ingham County and be served by the Ingham County Sheriffs department. They never lost their focus of what was important; finding Ricky Holland and finding his murderer.

“…I have listened to my friend describe how his home was raided in the early morning hours by deputies who cut up their new carpeting, tore down patched walls, damaged the family van, confiscated clothing and inflicted the final indignity by digging up the family’s deceased dog making the whole fiasco more of a media event. (…)”

You listened to your friend describe how his home was being invaded and his secrets were being uncovered. He complained just like the criminal he is.

“…The investigation conducted by the Sheriffs department has been nothing short of a travesty. Each day, that boy’s trail grows colder while resources are wasted harassing this boys family. I have known Tim and Lisa for several years. During that time, I have seen them demonstrate a great degree of patience, love and devotion to their children, providing them with a good, loving and nurturing environment. Now, during their greatest moment of need when they need the support of the community and local law enforcement, they have been subjected to harrassment [sic] and humiliating tactics. On top of this, they have intervened in Tim’s job to have him suspended from performing his daily duties in an effort to break him mentally and emotionally. (…)”

Ricky’s trail was cold from the first day. If I were you I would reexamine how well you really know Tim and Lisa Holland and then reexamine whether you want them on your list of friends. If Ricky had been provided with a good, loving and nurturing environment then he would not have been breaking into neighbor’s homes raiding their refrigerators for simple things like peanut butter and jelly and milk; he certainly would not have been murdered by his adoptive parents.

As far as Tim’s job is concerned my guess is that the U.S. Army frowns on one of their own being suspected of murder. Most likely Tim was relieved of his duties until the investigation could clear him. My guess is he will no longer be in the U.S. Army.

“…As a parent myself, I can not even begin to imagine the pain, hurt, fear and other emotions this family has suffered in recent months. I would ask your readers to inquire of the Ingham County Sheriffs department what other possible leads they’re following and their reasons for tormenting this family? [sic] It sure has the look, feel, sound and smell of a department trying to cover its own mistakes. (…)”

The only feelings Tim and Lisa most likely felt were the feelings a murderer has when he or she is trying to keep from getting caught. The Ingham County Sheriffs department followed the leads that led them to the guilty parties.

“…The Holland’s hope, pray and believe in their hearts that their son is still alive. (…)”

This is so insulting.

“…AT [sic] this point, any parent should have a right to know just what is being done to reunite a child with his/her family. If this is Ingham County’s tax dollars at work, then I think it is time for your community and the state Law Enforcement community to have an accounting of the departments [sic] practices and procedures. If you ask me the real persons of interest are not the Holland’s but the Ingham County Sheriffs Department. Perhaps it is time to request this matter be elevated to the State Police level or another competent Law Enforcement office to assist this family. No one should be subjected to the humiliating, underhanded, dirty, and ethically challenged tactics that have been inflicted upon the Holland’s. (…)”

The real persons of interest were and are the accused who are currently residing in the Ingham County Jail. Tim and Lisa Holland deserved to be subjected to every tactic necessary to break them down once investigators realized just with whom they were dealing. Ricky should never have been subjected to abuse and murder and the hands of the people who swore that they loved him so very much.

“…One other final note: Mr. Holland stated that he was advised by the police that they had alibied [sic] some 90 sex offenders within a 20 – 30 mile radius of his home – all within forty days! Short of a “yes” or “no” interview with these offenders, you have to wonder about the depth and scope of these “interviews”. It should also make the inquisitive reader wonder if your own word or reputation can stand up to the credibility of a sex offender if you were in this situation. Apparently, its [sic] good enough for the Sheriff’s department! (…)”

Well, certainly sex offenders living in the area must be considered as suspects any time a child disappears. Unfortunately statistically speaking “persons of interest” are usually the last persons to see the child alive.

“…In closing, I would hope that your community would support the Holland’s as they face the daily nightmare most parents dread – a missing child. Requesting accountability of our elected officials AND those who serve and protect the community is not something we should take for granted. Please take a few minutes of your time and ask yourself what you would do if you were in the Holland’s position? How would you respond to such an insidious allegation? How would you hold your life and family together through such an ordeal? (…)”

They only daily nightmare the Holland’s faced were their visions of law enforcement knocking on their door and arresting them for their adopted son’s murder.

I am reminded of the Aarone Thompson disappearance. She was reported missing. She also supposedly “ran away”. Law enforcement realized that something was not right. As it turns out there is strong evidence that the child was murdered in her own home at least 1 ½ years ago. There were no recent pictures of Aarone and she was not enrolled in school. Was Ricky enrolled in school? No, he was home-schooled.

People do terrible things to children in this day and age for reasons that are beyond mine and most decent people’s comprehension.

This would have been one instance when I would have gladly offered a written apology if only it would have meant that Ricky was alive.

This next comment was from someone who called my blog arrogant.

“…IMO -what an arrogant blog. Hope your kid never disappears! ONLY THREE SCENARIOS,huh?
What about someone snatched him (just like Polly and Jessica)from his bedroom? Took him to McDonalds, and he fled! (…)”

You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to write what I think. If you have an opposing viewpoint or had one I encourage you to get a free blogger account and blog away about your opinions. I considered the three possible scenarios at the time of the other entry because that is all I could come up with at the time.

Polly Klaas and Jessica Lunsford were unusual instances of child abduction and murder. The Holland’s story might have been more believable if they had not set up the crime scene. Obviously we now know that Ricky was not snatched from his room, taken to McDonald’s and the he got away. It is too bad that was not the case; he might have had a better chance of surviving.

“…Did the candy wrapper have any DNA on it? If no, the manufacturer has explained the lot number could belong to any number of boxes or bags. Do you really think the HOLLANDS are the only ones who bought that stuff? It could easily be a red herring! (…)”

A red herring most likely planted there by Tim or Lisa Holland.

“…The scent from the McDonalds and the possible sighting and the foot print seem to confirm that Ricky was walking and he appeared to be alone. He also, if this teen’s account is accurate (and I see no reason to suspect it is not) that Ricky was trying to avoid contact and was literally RUNNING AWAY! (…)”

Obviously all that the scent confirms at this point in time is that the scent was planted there as well as the footprints. There were numerous false sightings of Ricky Holland during the days and up to a week after his disappearance. So many people hoped he was there, somewhere to be found.

“…Ricky had some mental problems – why not homeschool him? Sounds like love to me. He was only 7 years old. Maybe the Hollands felt it would be in RIcky’s best interest to get the initial fundamentals from them. There is also the question if not homeschooled where would he have attended school? Some mentally disturbed kids end up in horribly dangerous or depressing places because parents just want to unload them ASAP and some school districts don’t have programs that can handle special needs kids. You really took a leap without doing any research. COnsidering you don’t live in the state, etc. as you disclosed in this blog, you really need to do more homework yourself before you create this type of blog! (…)”

Tim Holland was quoted as saying Ricky was just recently home-schooled. He and Lisa had made the decision to go that route because he was being sent home from school more often that staying. He also stated that Lisa had been considering sending him back to school instead of continuing to home-school him. Perhaps the home-schooling was taking too much of Lisa’s time and patients.

“…Tim having a sensitive military job tells me that he has already gone through a thorough background check and been CLEARED by the FBI or the military AND both Parents were investigated and cleared for the adoption of Ricky. Sure there have been cases of neglect or abuse in adoption cases but the only thread of suspicion in this case seems to be the constant effort by the police to build a case around the only “people of interest” they have and the Hollands effort to protect themselves (and their family) by hiring legal counsel. There are thousands of cases where the parents do not do TV interviews! And apparently Tim’s instincts about the police was on target because there have been four search warrants. If I had a gut reaction and knew my job precluded me from behaving in a manner that the police (and apparently you) find out of the ordinary, then I would hire an attorney too. To be honest, we have a family attorney we turn to for various reasons. Could they have known this attorney because of the adoption and turned to him for help and guidance when Ricky disappeared? (…)”

The background check given to Tim by the military, if he indeed had one, was obviously insufficient to reveal the severe personality flaws he has that makes him capable of either murder or concealing a murder.

There have been quite a few parents who have been cleared for adoptions and foster parenting and have fallen through the cracks. In the case of Tim and Lisa Holland they slipped through the cracks at the expense of Ricky’s life.

Sometimes when people jump so quickly to hire an attorney to protect their interests, it makes law enforcement a bit suspicious. They appeared suspect because they were.

“…I would not begin to judge these people as you have done throughout your blog! It is disgusting to me! (…)”

I wish that I would have been wrong. I would have been pleased as punch to have been wrong if it meant Ricky Holland was still alive. What disgusts me are people like the Holland’s who abuse and murder their adopted child and then cover up the crime. That is disgusting to me, I hope it is just as disgusting to you as well.

“…To keep this little guy before the public is one thing ACTUALLY something commendable! However, to malign and imply the parent(s) must be guilty of something is just really ARROGANT and EVIL, IN MY OPINION! (…)”

My intention for this blog, the website and the forum was to do exactly that, to keep Ricky in the public eye. If the Holland’s had not acted suspect then you would not have seen the blogging here that you did.

I sent emails to the local reporter as well as to the Victim Advocate who contacted me extending an invitation to the Holland’s inviting them to participate on the forum. I never heard one word from them. Not, thank you for thinking of our son, not no thank you we are not interested.

What is telling is that the biological father managed to visit the forum and post his sorrow about his son’s disappearance. To me the silence from the Holland’s was deafening.

I will post the email but omit parts of it that may identify the writer:

Not only did Lisa Holland perpetuate the lie within her family she perpetuated the lie on an entire nation.

I think the part of this email that got to me the most was where the writer states:

“The guilt that Lisa has been carring must be relieved now that Ricky is with God. We all can now be at peace for Ricky”