Cause of Death Cannot Be Determined
Story Created: February 28, 2006
A news conference was held this afternoon in Lansing, Michigan to announce the results of the month-long autopsy of Ricky Holland.
Due to the extreme decomposition of the body a cause of death cannot be established. It was noted that Ricky suffered fresh breaks in the bones of his upper body and face at the time of his death.
Ingham County Medical Examiner Dean Sienko went on to state:
“…We believe the injuries discovered demonstrate a pattern of abuse by others and violence to Ricky Holland at a time shortly prior to his death”[...]“
Based on the results of the autopsy, which are disappointing to say the least, my guess is that both of the Holland’s murdered Ricky that night. I think Tim Holland beat him and Lisa finished the job with the hammer because Ricky was injured so severely from this final beating there was nothing left to do but finish the job.
I think that they needed to do something with Ricky because they had that last adoption in the works. I think they were under the microscope for this last adoption and the social workers were making more frequent home visits in those final months. There would have been no way to hide or explain away those severe injuries to the social worker.
I am reminded of the case late last year of Aarone Thompson. She was also 7-years-old and reported as a runaway. It did not take detectives but a few days to determine that Aarone had been murdered at least 18 months prior to the reported disappearance. What came to light during that investigation was that Aarone’s grandmother was coming for a visit. She had not seen her granddaughter in at least three years. There was no way to explain to the grandmother why her granddaughter was not there except to report her as a missing child.
The detectives immediately removed the other 7 children from the home. They have not located Aarone’s body and Aarone’s father and the live-in girlfriend have not been charged as of this writing.
I hope to God that the Prosecution has enough evidence today in the Holland’s preliminary hearing to hold them over for trial on open murder.
Sources:
MLive.com:
Officials: Boy’s remains too decomposed to confirm cause of death
AMW.com:
Aarone Thompson
131 Responses to 'Cause of Death Cannot Be Determined'
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That’s a pretty good theory, but my question is why on Earth did the final adoption go through? Poor Ricky was food/water deprived so he couldn’t have been able to fight back very well. Why use a hammer of all things? Was it handy? So much HATRED for such a small helpless innocent child.
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 12:22 pm
Why didn’t the doctor, who was treating Ricky for 3 years, notice the abuse his teachers did?
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 12:30 pm
Quote: Sienko and DeJong today did say the boy had fewer than 10 fractures, but they declined to say if Ricky suffered a blow to his skull. That, they said, will come out in court.
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060228/NEWS01/602280357/1001/news
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 12:40 pm
prayfully they will be able to throw the book at these ppl… and they will go to prison without parol. and maybe justice will be served to those two in prison by the inmates
KC
28 Feb 06 at 1:01 pm
The Doc approved the harness:
Two of the letters concerned Abedi’s endorsement of the use of a harness restraint for Ricky while he was on the school bus for his own safety.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060228/NEWS11/60228005
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 1:22 pm
Channel 6 News: Two months before Ricky “disappeared”, Richard Cole, a neighbor of the Holland’s, found Ricky in his house drinking some beverages. Ricky said his parents didn’t want him anymore WHY didn’t they do something? Kids don’t talk like that.
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 2:29 pm
The neighbor also said he saw Ricky’s chin had what he thought were homemade stiches in it. So the monsters were making their own stiches to cover up what they were doing to him. Ricky said he heard his parents say they wanted another baby, not him.
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 2:48 pm
Anonymous said…
Channel 6 News: Two months before Ricky “disappeared”, Richard Cole, a neighbor of the Holland’s, found Ricky in his house drinking some beverages. Ricky said his parents didn’t want him anymore WHY didn’t they do something? Kids don’t talk like that.
Anonymous said…
The neighbor also said he saw Ricky’s chin had what he thought were homemade stiches in it. So the monsters were making their own stiches to cover up what they were doing to him. Ricky said he heard his parents say they wanted another baby, not him.
Where are your sources for these references? Not that I am doubting you, but unless there are some articles with this info in it, I can’t truly beleive it, ya know?
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 2:54 pm
News footage showed neither one of them shed a tear today. Tim looked confident in a suit. Lisa even laughed at one point.
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 3:09 pm
My sources are the local news reports on TV. They aren’t online yet. You’ll see all this in tomorrow’s papers.
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 3:11 pm
Did anyone listen to the radio interview Tim gave to Deminski and Doyle on Free FM 97.1 after Ricky went “missing”?
I just heard it today, after learning about the link from the court tv message board.
Pathetic to say the least, but even more so to hear his other children crying and screaming in the background. Yes, we’ve all had babies cry while on the phone…but one has to wonder what Lisa was up to at the time!
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 5:46 pm
what is the link? can u post it so I can go and listen… I have never even knew that he gave a interview to them
KC
28 Feb 06 at 6:21 pm
http://live971freefm.com/pages/1698.php.. never mind there is the link…. it is about halfway down the page….
KC
28 Feb 06 at 6:32 pm
the SCREAMING in it is AWEFUL.. whoever wrote the post above is correct.. there is NO WAY she wasnt doin something to them…
KC
28 Feb 06 at 6:36 pm
I hope someone sends that link to an interview with Tim Holland to the Prosecutor’s office. It’s evidence how these children were crying in the background.
I hope the person who knows that Ricky played in playgrounds, unlike what Tim Holland said, also tells this to the Prosecutor’s office. It is impeachment evidence against Tim Holland.
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 8:03 pm
This post has been removed by the author.
KC
28 Feb 06 at 8:09 pm
how do I get ahold of The proscuter? I will let them know in a heartbeat…Just dont know how please let me know
KC
28 Feb 06 at 8:10 pm
I’ll post a link to the Prosectuor’s office in just a minute. Here’s a link to what I posted earlier I had seen on the local TV news:
During Tuesday’s hearing, two of the family’s neighbors testified that they found Ricky searching their refrigerators for food and something to drink in separate incidents in May 2005.
Richard Cole said Ricky told him that his parents did not want him and wished they had another baby. “I don’t believe he wanted to go back to that house,” Cole said.
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/ap/article.html?mi=D8G2G61O7&apc=9001
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 8:16 pm
Email address for the Ingham County Prosecutor: Stuart Dunnings
sdunnings@ingham.org
Phone (517) 483-6108 Fax (517) 483-6397
Anonymous
28 Feb 06 at 8:19 pm
If you look on the Lansing State Journal for Wednesday’s news, it states that when Ricky went to a neighbors to grab an ice tea, Tim went back later on and appologized to the neighbor and said that Ricky had “TED BUNDY DISEASE” and that they could not keep any pets as Ricky would kill them. WHOA, wait a minute. What an awful thing to say about a child, unless you wanted to scare the neighbor to keep far from the child and make the child unbelievable in the neighbors eyes…
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 3:06 am
Yes, it’s disgusting what they said:
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/NEWS01/603010354/1150
Cole, who lives across the street from the Hollands’ Williamston home, discovered Ricky in his kitchen the morning of May 9, drinking a Snapple iced tea taken from his refrigerator.
When he asked Ricky what he was doing, “He said, ‘I’m a runaway child,’ ” Cole testified.
After figuring out who the boy was, he walked him home, where he handed him to a puzzled Tim Holland.
Cole testified Tim Holland came to his house about 20 minutes later, apologized, saying Ricky had been “kicked out of every school in Jackson,” and that the family “couldn’t own any pets because Ricky would kill them.”
He also said Tim Holland claimed Ricky had “Ted Bundy disease.”
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 5:06 am
Remember, these monsters are also pathological liars. Tim said Ricky would kill a pet, they had a dog in the house.
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 5:19 am
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/METRO/603010352/1003
Ricky’s Mom Seeks Body
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 5:51 am
If you’ve never been angry about this whole situation (and I know EVERYONE has been), this interview with Tim Holland is way out in left field. How that person could contact Deminski and Doyle to set up a “poor me” interview and carry on with all of this CRAP…”my wife and I put him to bed, gave him a hug and a kiss, and said ‘We’ll see you in the morning”. GARBAGE! It is beyond my comprehension how the lies just went on and on and on. Before hearing this, I thought Tim was just an abused husband who did what his crazy wife told him to do. Needless to say, I’ve changed my mind.
By the way, he was NOT kicked out of any school in Jackson. I can attest to that. SHE took him out!
I don’t believe in Capital Punishment, but this is tempting me to change my views.
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 5:58 am
Yes, they are sociopaths and pathological liars, both of them. They are two of a kind. Poor Ricky.
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 6:14 am
You know, you cannot even say they are animals. Animals would never do that to their young.
There are worse things than death. At least Ricky is happy now with God and will never have to contend with what he had to in life. Yes, he should be alive, but being alive now would be having to live with two totally sick creeps. May God have mercy on their soul.
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 6:39 am
It’s alwasy a big fat lie with the Hollands it seems…. I lived by them for over 4 years in Jackson and they always had 2 little dogs! Ricky never killed them! The dogs moved with them….the dogs played in the yard more than the kids. I know that one of them died after they moved…. I always wonder when that dog died…. seems it died around the same time as Ricky… makes me wonder if they killed that dog too. But I believe that they couldn’t keep a pet is one more big lie.
~Previous Jackson Neighbor
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 7:08 am
Dear Previous Jackson Neighbor,
Please tell the prosecutor’s office your eyewitness account of the Hollands having pets, when they said Ricky would kill a pet. It’s impeachment evidence against pathological liar Tim Holland
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 7:21 am
Thank you, I’ll do that…. I already wrote down the info.
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 7:24 am
I put a new pict of ricky on my blog… casey sent it to me also and asked me to add it
so it is there if anyone wants to see how happy lil Ricky was
KC
1 Mar 06 at 7:51 am
thank you for the prosecuters email. I have emailed him the link to the interview and a statement that States that I was With ricky when he was younger and yes he did play on playgrounds. it was his favorite place to be. I hope and pray it helps
KC
1 Mar 06 at 8:05 am
Just sent my info to the Prosecuters office also. Thanks.
~Previous Jackson Neighbor
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 8:29 am
KC, Thank you for the cute picture of Ricky on your site. I’m glad to see him happy, with people who loved him.
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 8:30 am
If I can Get more from Casey I will be posting More on there for everyone.. I know she has more .. she just has to send em to me
alright thank you for everyone who has looked at my blog and commented … it means the world to Casey and I 
thank you again and hopefully everything we sent the prosecuter will help in his case we can only pray that it will
KC
1 Mar 06 at 9:15 am
First responder to 911 call testifies to a ‘frantic’ Holland household
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/NEWS01/603010361/1001/news
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 9:26 am
Yes, the interview was never mentioned in any newspaper I’ve seen. As I stated, I found it on the court tv message board..under missing persons. I’ve spent hours each night digging up any info I can find regarding the Hollands and will continue to do so until they face their maker. Along with another blogger I emailed Nancy Grace at Court TV as well.
I live in Jackson Mi and was aware of the Hollands but never met them personally….wish I had! We can’t bring Ricky back but I will do all I can to not only seek justice for him but every other child suffering at the hands of the abusers and those that place them there.
Incidentally, Jackson Citizen Patriot reports two new cases just this week of child abuse/molestation regarding very young children. One has to wonder the past history of THESE offenders and whether or not we have more than one incompetent case worker “protecting” our children.
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 4:02 pm
From the local TV news: Only 2 witnesses today. The first was the first officer who went to the house when they said Ricky was missing. Another officer testified how cool and calm Tim was. He asked the Holland’s to make a journal about what happened in Ricky’s last few days. He read from Tim’s journal and Tim cried again.
Tim’s said they gave Ricky a time out for hitting his sister the night before he went “missing” (i.e., the night they murdered him), and that Ricky said he hated his parents. Tim’s tears for himself.
I hope that is true, that Ricky told the monsters he hated them. He was a smart boy, he knew if he couldn’t run away, those monsters would kill him. I’m glad he told them off, if he did.
The defense attorneys told a reporter they expected the preliminary hearing to last a month, the judge told the reporter, she only had her calendar clear until Monday.
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 4:44 pm
Please clarify. Are you saying the judge expects this to be wrapped up by Monday? If so, let’s hope the prosecutor’s ducks are all lined up. Otherwise, these monsters will get away with murder and Ricky’s legacy of abuse will carry on.
Sorry, I just don’t have much faith in the State these days. Sure hope I’m wrong on this one.
Anonymous
1 Mar 06 at 6:09 pm
I dont have faith in them anymore either…. I pray that The Proscuter proves that there IS enough Evidance to convict and they both go to prison forever… Lil Ricky was the brightest boy I had met.. he loved life. at least he did when his BIRTH mother had him. I love that boy with all my heart. and I pray his death will be avenged and the state will See the hollands for the murderous Monsters they really are
KC
1 Mar 06 at 7:01 pm
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/METRO/603020339
March 02, 2006
The boy who had no chance
Ricky’s life: From one family tragedy to another
Karen Bouffard / The Detroit News
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 5:04 am
anonymous asked “Please clarify. Are you saying the judge expects this to be wrapped up by Monday?”
The reporter said that the Judge had only cleared her schedule through Monday. I assume that meant the rest of the preliminary hearing would be rescheduled.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 5:06 am
the new Picts are up.. casey Just told me To grab the ones off the DET news.. so I did… they are there at the bottom right above the comments
KC
2 Mar 06 at 6:58 am
I just listened (for the fourth or fifth time) to the Tim Holland interview with Deminski and Doyle. I presume this interview took place late July or sometime in August. Funny what you hear after listening several times. Tim very seldom used Ricky’s name. About 95% of the time it was “my son.” When referring to Lisa, it was ALWAYS “my wife.” Non-entities??? I also noticed a glaring clue to the “death” of Ricky. When the interviewer asked Tim how the other children were taking it, he said something like “my oldest son knows something is wrong but doesn’t know how to verbalize it.” “MY OLDEST SON.” If Ricky were still alive, RICKY would have been his oldest son. If anyone hasn’t heard this interview, go to http://www.live971freefm.com. Then go to Archives. Click on Deminski and Doyle Archive. Arrow down till you get to the one with the Tim Holland Interview. Click play. It is a little over 12 minutes long. I’d be anxious to hear comments. Is there any other major “clues” in the interview that I missed.
One wonders how the interviewer could have missed the clue about his “oldest son” not being Ricky anymore, but I guess at the time most people believed Ricky was just a runaway and not a MURDERED CHILD!
Hindsight always has 20/20 vision.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 7:53 am
Visiting kc’s Memory Blog for Ricky…seeing his happy little face with his real mom….reading their sad story just breaks my heart….Casey, I will pray for you to have your children returned to you…. the state did you wrong….very, very wrong….and it was your son who paid the price. I am so sorry for your loss and the incompetance of this state. I pray Jennifer Granholm will do as she promised and investigate the whole system. Casey, at 16 years old you should of been helped more and offered more…. you were failed big time. Not only should Tim and Lisa pay…and they better….but the state and all who were involved should pay….things need to change in this state….and I for one am going to find out everything I can with this matter and the problems. I am so sad and angry…. I am sick and tired of how our system fails the innocent! I have no faith in it…. I pray it finally does something right now…and the Judge saying she only has her calendar clear until Monday just make me more mad… like its not worth her time… shows how much our system cares. Everyone must stay on top of this case…and pray.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:06 am
Wonderful insights by the poster who posted on the radio interview Tim Holland gave. Patsy Ramsey also never said JonBenet’s name, calling her “my daughter” to the 911 operator, and that is in the ransom note as well, no name.
I would send your insights to the Prosectuor’s office. They are evidence, especially when he now calls the 4 year old boy my oldest son
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:19 am
Listening to that radio interview with Tim is sickening. The going back to work thing…. because his vacation time was up….just so sick….God I pray for them both to get exactly what they deserve. I do wonder what is making those kids cry in the back ground. Has parental rights been taken away from them yet?
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:23 am
I listened to the interview. Tim is a very convincing liar and complete sociopath. The interview is absolutely sickening.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:27 am
no they BOTH still have their Parenttal Rights… which is Wierd because Casey Never Abused ANY of her kids and her rights were Stripped from her.. kinda sad if you ask me…the system fails everyone in this case.. well the important ppl anyway… I pray tim and lisa holland get everything they deserve for this and then some…
KC
2 Mar 06 at 8:32 am
The State of Michigan was right to take away Casey and Ricky’s parental rights. She had a ninth grade education, no job, no home, no future and no ability to financially support Ricky and all the other kids she kept having. He was a convicted drug dealer with a long criminal record.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:41 am
OOO so you are saying they were right for taking Lil Ricky away and Not helping her like they should have.. but that it is OK for what the OVERLOOKED in the holland house? they Over looked abuse to the kids in the holland house and LEFT them there and now Ricky is Dead because of it… they said the program of family’s First Was what kept the kids with the hollands… funny The caseworker never ONCE offered that to Casey
KC
2 Mar 06 at 8:44 am
further more… What does having a ninth grade education have to do with anything? I have an 11th Grade eduction let them TRY to take my son away… they will have a fight on thier hands. that shouldnt even Come up about her Education,,,
KC
2 Mar 06 at 8:47 am
Yes, the State of Michigan was negligent with everything to do with the Hollands from beginning to end, and Casey should file a lawsuit over it. The mother of Lisa Steinberg filed a lawsuit against the city of New York when the same thing happened and won a large judgement.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:48 am
Having a ninth grade education has everything to do with it. You can’t get any type of job to support yourself or any kids with that type of minimal education level.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:49 am
No, they shouldn’t of taken her kids away because she was young,uneducated and poor….they should of helped her….now look what happened….it wasn’t a better life for Ricky…it was death… to a couple who was educated, older and had money….so what your saying doesn’t make sense.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:53 am
Education has nothing to do with loving your children…. or raising them to be good people either! Being educated doesn’t mean your better than someone else in any way.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:56 am
This is what the Judge said who took away Casey and Ricky’s parental rights, and he was right:
“It’s not right to have Ricky in foster care until he’s, you know, 6 or 7 years old to see if something’s going to happen and you’re going to be able to take care of him,” Jackson Circuit Court Judge Chad Schmucker said as he severed Caswell’s and Gann’s parental rights Feb. 4, 2002.
“I don’t think there’s a reasonable expectation you’re going to be able to provide proper care or custody, either one of you, not within a reasonable time considering his age, and I don’t think either one of you are equipped right now to take care of him properly.”
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:57 am
I dont believe that.. Like I said I have a 11th grade education and I take care of my son just fine… I believe that yes it is partly Casey’s Fault that she lost her kids but it is NOT entirely her fault.. the Caseworker played a BIG hand in that….she is not a good person and has screwed over MANY families that I know of and that others have told me about…Im gonna play a what if here…. do you think that if Casey had a Different caseworker, who actually cared bout Children, this all would have happened? NO they would have worked with her and she would have been able to keep her kids. they would have helped her get her GED and a good Job.. But this caseworker didnt Care what so ever… she was all into striping casey of everything including her dignity. which I know For a fact she has done to two other parents one with College classes under her belt and another with a college degree so no the education had nothing to do with why she did what she did.
KC
2 Mar 06 at 9:00 am
thank you to the ones who See that LOVE is what makes a home
KC
2 Mar 06 at 9:01 am
She should of been helped….she was 16… she should of been offered housing, and education help…I wish she had more family to help her at the time….I don’t know why her parents couldn’t help her….but remember who killed Ricky…not Casey! If it was me I would have done whatever it took to keep my kid….. but she was too young with no one to help her…she didn’t know and had no support…. I don’t condemn her…. but I wish she could do it all over again… and I bet things would be much different now.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 9:04 am
First off, please know I am not casting stones at Casey. I have no doubt she loves her children. Her rights were not severed because of her level of education. I cannot remember where I read this to quote it correctly, but they were severed because she had moved 6 times in a short period of time where she could have had supervised visits with her children. Then she missed several visits and (could not be located?). I know there was more involved than just that, but if you want to prove to the courts you want custody, you MUST show up for ALL visits with the children.
Again, I am NOT casting stones. The outcome of this terrible thing ended so tragically for all concerned. I feel bad for Casey. I cannot imagine what a birth mother would go through, but in many ways she did bring this on herself.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 9:05 am
See you dont understand in this Situation couple questions here…
did they help her with Transportaion to get the visit? NO
did they Give her families first before taking Ricky NO
did they help her find a job through work first NO
did they help her in ANY way .. NO
unless you were there and Watchin this all Transpire you cant possibly understand What casey DID do to get her kids back… and that she hit a brick wall each and Everytime with the caseworker…
KC
2 Mar 06 at 9:10 am
Read the cover story in today’s Detroit News, “The boy who never had a CHANCE” about Ricky, how his parents parental rights were terminated, the domestic abuse classes that were mandatory that she cancelled repeatedly, etc.
http://www.detroitnews.com
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 9:11 am
She was 16 years old! A baby herself….no support, didn’t understand….ans was overwhelmed! She NEEDED MORE HELP.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 9:11 am
a couple of them I know She Canceled because she had NO ride there… and If I could drive i would have driven her myself…
KC
2 Mar 06 at 9:13 am
Quote “she was a baby herself. Then why is she having kids?
She married a drug dealer felon, who is Ricky’s father. She had three other kids with a man she never married. Now she’s married to another felon and registered sex offender.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 9:15 am
well for one Thing she didnt know bout rick. but if you had no hope and the only one you had to cling to is someone who wouldnt marry you(the other children father). how you feel if you had no hope and no help. You dont know because you werent there watching it all play out and if you got into a situation like that you wouldnt know what to do … being so young and not having any help.
KC
2 Mar 06 at 9:20 am
You are a little on the cruel side…and have no understanding or sympathy….sad.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 9:40 am
who is Cruel? not me I hope.. Im Trying to do everything I can for Casey.. from where Im at anyway.. we are states apart. Got an Email back From Proscuter stating that if I thought what I had was important to the case to call.. I have and have left several Messages but no answer back… wonder why… hopefully he doenst need what I said and Hopefully he can get them Two on everything without it and they will rot in prison for what they did to Lil Ricky
KC
2 Mar 06 at 9:49 am
No, not you kc! The person dogging Casey seems a little cruel.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 10:32 am
Dogging her for having no personal responsibility for her own actions?
For not staying in school instead of having kids without any means to support them or any education? That’s her fault.
The taxpayers of Michigan are not footing the bill for unwed teenage mother’s problems. They use the money for schools, roads, education.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 10:38 am
Bus driver was concerned for Ricky’s safety at home
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/NEWS01/603020362/1001/news
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 10:46 am
You know, it seems as though this is getting into a lot of back-biting. The bottom line is that mistakes were made – both by Casey and the State. Because of those mistakes, a little boy is dead.
Hopefully this will be a lesson to young people – don’t go having children unless you are able to care for them.
IF you already have children that are in the custody of the state and are given the opportunity to prove you are a fit parent and have visitation rights, do whatever you can to keep the appointment with your children. Put one foot in front of the other and walk or take a bus (cheap transportation) if there is no other ride. Just GET THERE. If you cannot get there, call and let them know. Not showing up and not calling will get them nowhere.
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to take responsibility for what happens. One cannot go through life blaming the system or anyone else. As many mothers have said, you made your bed, now lie in it.
Am I trying to be a snot? No, not at all. I’m just tiring of hearing how it is everyone else’s fault. Not just in this case, but everywhere.
An alcoholic? Blame someone else. A drug addict? Blame someone else. You get the message.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 11:04 am
Quote: The bus workers also said they gave Ricky a snack and juice regularly because he was hungry, and they testified that they sometimes had to search for the boy after school because he was off looking for food.
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/business/index.ssf?/base/news-32/1141323866194390.xml&storylist=mibusiness
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 11:21 am
Lil Ricky was the brightest boy I had met.. he loved life. at least he did when his BIRTH mother had him.
Not to sound crude, but how in the world can a child love life when he has to dig through trash for his food, when he has no regular place to sleep at night, when he dont know who he will be with from one day to the next. I am not saying that the Hollands prvided any better, I think BOTH sets of parents failed this little fella. I can not see how anyone, whether they know Casey and Rick or not can say that he had a good life with them. We all know that his life could not have been good with the Hollands either, but how somebody can sit there and blame EVERYONE ELSE for Casey’s inability to provide for her children is ludicrous. And not only did she not have the ability to provide for Ricky, she CONTINUED to have more kids, still with hopes that the state will support them, knowing darn well that she could not. And its poor Casey? I think not. Its those POOR CHILDREN who had to come into this world with an unfit mother and father who could not provide for them. So why keep having more children? I dont get it! Casey admitted that Ricky had to dig through trash ans to get his dinner, now what kind of life is that? That is not a life my one child would have and me think its OK, so I keep having more!! Casey is not the poor mother who was failed! Ricky was the poor child who was failed by everyone that knew him…And what I cant seem to get an answer to, is IF Casey wants her kiddos back, WHY marry a sex offender? OBVIOUSLY she STILL has little concerns over her children. Some things never change. I think Tim and Lisa will go to Hell for what they have done, I am certain of it. The only person who did any bit of right to those children was the State for protecting them from Casey and her inability to provide for her babies, then they failed when they put them with Tim and Lisa. Its such a sad story, but I just cant think for a second that “Poor Casey” was the victim here!
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 11:38 am
That’s what the Detroit News article is about, how both sets of parents failed Ricky.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 11:44 am
AMEN TO THAT!
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 11:53 am
I agree with you and disagree with you on several points….but in a way, at one point, Casey was a victim….. she was a KID herself….16….and made poor choices…. kids do that. I’m not saying it’s everyone else’s fault…but she was a kid… needed more help. As for the fact that she’s married to a sex offender…. I do agree with you there. But I don’t know that story either. I do know of a confused and troubled kid who got someone in trouble once for saying they were sexually assulted….and that poor person got into all kinds of trouble….prison time also…you think thats good….and so did I ….until later, after that person’s life was ruined…and the kid grew up and confessed it was a lie because she was upset with him for not liking her….and it would of cost her court costs, contempt and possible jail time to fix it, so it was left on his record and his life still ruined he did several years for it, lost his wife and a great job…college educated….worked with troubled teenagers while they were incarcerated. I’m not saying this happened to Casey’s husband….but we don’t know what happened really. And kids can be just as messed up and troubled as adults….look at what’s going on in this world….look at this case…. no one knows whats right and whats wrong….I just want justice for Ricky….and the rest of the children. But I also want things to be better with the State, Government and the agencies and services that are supposed to help people. Society is getting worse…. more people need to be come involved and take responsibilty. It takes a society…. the cycle rolls over and over…. EVERYONE needs help once in a while. More people need to quit pointing fingers and help one another.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 12:33 pm
Casey was a victim of herself and her choices. No one made her drop out of school and have one kid after the next, without any means to support any of them. They don’t owe her a thing. She squandered her opportunity for education. The State’s only interest is in her minor children.
The State of Michigan doesn’t have the money to pay for caseworkers. The average caseload in the state is twice to four times the national average that a caseworker should have. Those are the realities.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 1:00 pm
Casey ASKED the State to put Rickey into foster care. For two years, she did little to improve her situation, at which time, a judge decided it best for Ricky to have a permanent home. The state didn’t do anything to Casey, she did it to herself. SHE contacted the State. Please, if you are going to indict the State, at least use the facts.
Soobs
2 Mar 06 at 1:13 pm
she contacted in in Hopes to get HELP not have her kids taken from her… yes she has made some dumb decisions.. but LOOK you dont know ANY of the story except for what is in the media.. you werent right there with her tryin to help her through it… and help her look for Jobs and a place of her own and of course you are NOT her.. so yes she is partly to fault in this.. but guess what So is the State Of Michigan DHS caseworker who cared NOTHING about those kids and many others that I know about.. she was more worried bout who had more MONEY the whole time… she believes that money is the key for having kids… its not the main Factor is LOVE and tim and lisa did NOT have love for these kids.. they had the education the age and the money… look where all that Got RICKY
KC
2 Mar 06 at 1:27 pm
Money is important, your own money from a steady job you work at.
They said Casey never held a job for more than a month when decisions were made about Ricky’s custody.
It’s important to have money pay for decent housing, clothing and food, and health care. You’re not going to get a good job with a ninth grade education. That’s what the State’s concerns are. They are not going to let a child stay with someone that is moving all the time, and fishing out of dumpsters.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 1:34 pm
where did money get ricky with the hollands? huh? DEATH…. So NO money is NOT everything
KC
2 Mar 06 at 1:37 pm
There are people who take responsibility for their actions and then there are those who like to blame others for what has been done to them. Ok, so Casey was 16 yrs old. Pregnant and married to a 40 year old drug smuggler. Casey had a choice. To my thinking dragging her baby into dumpsters for food was a poor choice. Hitchiking across country from California to Michigan is another poor choice. There are agencies to help the poor. She did not look for them. She wanted the state to take her baby and give him a good home. Let’s face it she was not 16 when she had 3 other babies, now was she? If you can’t take care of yourself do not bring kids into the mix, use birth control, PLEASE. As for wanting Ricky’s body for burial, WHY??? If Casey is unemployed how will she pay for a funeral??? PUBLIC DONATIONS. Casey seems more concerned about Little Ricky than her other 3 living children. Ricky’s life was horrendous, the Hollands will pay for their crimes. Casey should look in the mirror and then move on with her life and take responsibility for it, and not blame others for what has happened in her life.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 1:44 pm
you have no compassion the Hollands aint Takin Responsbility EITHER they are blaming each other and using their Money to hire lawyers to get them off of the murder Charge… and casey did not HITCH HIKE back to michigan.. her grandmother sent her the money to come back.. get your Story Straight before you make her seem like an unfit person.. she is not unfit… even if she Doesnt Get her other babies back.. maybe just MAYBE she will be able to have a part choice in where they go and make sure they are SAFE, because obviously they werent safe with tim and lisa who I stress have STILL NOT HAD THEIR RIGHTS taken… What kinda of Irony is that?
KC
2 Mar 06 at 2:21 pm
Last night I sent an email to Nancy Grace. Tonight, she is doing a story about Ricky on Headline News. Should be interesting.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 2:43 pm
where Can I find the interview at? I have never heard of this nancy person.. please let Me know I would LOVE to see it thank you
KC
2 Mar 06 at 2:50 pm
Nancy is a commentator on Court TV. She also has her own show on CNN’s Headline News, at 8pm.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 3:11 pm
From the local news: A bus driver, bus driver’s assistant, and school nurse all testified on Ricky’s behalf. Ricky was always hungry, was only given 2-3 lunches a week of only bread and celery or carrot sticks! He had bruises on his face and body and wore diapers in kindergarden.
The bus driver described Lisa Holland as EVIL. I totally agree.
Their defense was pathetic. They said the lunches Lisa gave Ricky were “nutritious”, that bruises meant nothing, and that they were “good parents raising a difficult child.” BALONEY.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 3:12 pm
From the local news: The school nurse testified that Ricky said Please don’t make me go home, let me stay in school. Please don’t make me go home Nurse.. She said that she saw bruises “across the shoulders, chest and half way down the back.”
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 4:11 pm
this was all happening AND being reported there is NO reason Ricky and the other kids shouldnt have been taken out IMMEDIATLY but no the were allowed to keep the kids and allowed to continue to beat the daylights out of them and in ricky’s case completly out of him,…. So now they are on Trial for his MURDER and there is KNOWN child abuse… so Tell me WHY these two monsters STILL have their parental Rights?
KC
2 Mar 06 at 5:11 pm
Headline news will be airing the segment about Ricky at approx. 8:30.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 5:13 pm
THANK YOU to whoever told Nancy Grace about this case. The segment is GREAT!
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 5:34 pm
Mike Nichols, the attorney for Lisa, LIED when he said the testimony didn’t show Ricky was malnourished.
The testimony was that he was hungry, the bus driver often had to go looking for him because he was hungry, that bus driver’s assistant took it upon herself to buy snacks from the snack machine for the hungry child, that his lunches were not adequate.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 5:42 pm
The segment was excellent, thorough and complete. The Nancy Grace program did a wonderful job. The best program on this case yet!
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 5:54 pm
I strongly advise anyone interested in this case to check out the messege board on Court TV’s website. There are many threads from people throughout the country regarding Ricky. You will find them under “missing persons”.
Also, at the last minute I sent an email to CNN with the link to Tim Holland’s radio interview. They didn’t play it as they ran out of time, but rest assure…I will send it to Nancy Grace. I refuse to let this case go away in the media until justice is served.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 6:02 pm
THANK YOU to all who are doin so much for lil Ricky and for his Justice his mother and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts
KC
2 Mar 06 at 6:04 pm
THANK YOU wonderful posters and concerned citizens for notifying the national media and getting the word out, and being active for Justice for Ricky.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 6:06 pm
THANK YOU to all the journalists covering this case, getting the swear to unsealed, especially Karen Bouffard of the Detroit News. Her stories have been amazing, right up through today’s.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 6:19 pm
To anyone that didn’t see the segment on Ricky on Nancy Grace, that segment re-airs at 10:30 pm, EST tonight. It’s well worth watching.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 6:43 pm
I live in Georgia? what time would it be there? sorry kinda dont know The time Zones and will it be On CNN or CourtTV?
KC
2 Mar 06 at 6:55 pm
I think I found it but not Sure.. someone Please email me The times.. and the channel.. my email is Asekay79@yahoo.com thank you
KC
2 Mar 06 at 7:00 pm
never mind found it thank you
KC
2 Mar 06 at 7:01 pm
One thing came out on the Nancy Grace show I hadn’t heard or read anywhere else. The felony assault charge against Lisa for throwing a hair dryer at Tim has been dropped.
WHY? I don’t understand why charges were dropped on that at all.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 7:21 pm
A big question in a negligence suit will be this. As the Blog owner noted, when the State of Colorado knew Aarone Thompson was reported missing, and believed the father and girlfriend were the prime suspects, they removed the other children from their custody immediately.
Here, the State of Michigan allowed yet another adoption to be finalized after Ricky was reported “missing”, never took the remaining children away from the Hollands, and left them there still, even after they knew these children were also being abused. Those children were in danger of great bodily injury or death at any time. That’s a real negligence claim.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 7:59 pm
that is true.. the state of Michigan DHS workers who knew of the abuse and the ones who STILL have not taken the parental rights away should be proscuted also
KC
2 Mar 06 at 8:01 pm
It’s awful, and it’s a miracle the other children weren’t severely injured or killed by those monsters.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 8:07 pm
What disturbed me, among the other things I have read and seen, is when the defense atty., the woman from Michigan, said (not verbatim), that until Lisa was arrested on assult charges and Tim told that Lisa had killed Ricky, that there was very little evidence that the two of them were responsible.
I can’t believe they were so clever as to covering this up so well. Does anyone know, is it really true, that law enforcement didn’t have much of a case until the hair dryer incedent??
VaBells
2 Mar 06 at 8:35 pm
Regarding the hair dryer incident being dropped…my guess is there is some type of plea bargaining.
However, let’s not just lay our faith in the hands of the judge or prosector’s office.
KEEP the public interest moving until justice is served.
Anonymous
2 Mar 06 at 9:01 pm
I agree about the public intrest.. it will help the case and hopefully Shove it in the Right direction towards conviction of those two
KC
3 Mar 06 at 4:39 am
vabels asked “Does anyone know, is it really true, that law enforcement didn’t have much of a case until the hair dryer incedent??
No, law enforcement had clothes with Ricky’s blood on them, blood from in the house of his, carpet that had been replaced after he went “missing”. There was enough to charge first degree murder, IMO.
They wanted Ricky’s body. So do the police in the Aarone Thompson case and the Sabrina Aisenberg case, before charging the parents.
Anonymous
3 Mar 06 at 5:19 am
All I can say is they better keep those demons behind bars. I’m sure while in prison (and I’m sure they will end up there) they will get a taste of what they inflicted on Ricky!
Anonymous
3 Mar 06 at 11:43 am
Oh definately! I have always understood that the people that serve the hardest time in jail are child murders and child molesters.
vabells
3 Mar 06 at 12:32 pm
Good because life in prison without parole is too good for these monsters.. I believe that they had this planned out and I think if the Judge rules that there isnt enough evidence ( which is unlikely) that there will be an Uproar of the US citizans who have followed this story and the ones who knew ricky.
KC
3 Mar 06 at 1:52 pm
One poster commented
“Hopefully this will be a lesson to young people – don’t go having children unless you are able to care for them.”
A LESSON??????????????????????
I am adopted and I see no reason for this child’s torture,abuse,starvation and eventual DEATH to be any kind of LESSON.You act like this child was just garbage to be thrown away and so it was OKAY,as long as it is a lesson.Foster and adopted children deserve as much love and kindness as any other child.What an awful thing to say.
Anonymous
3 Mar 06 at 3:27 pm
THANK YOU for sayin that.. yes all Children deserve love foster Adopted or birth
lesson NOTHIN … he should never have been killed
KC
3 Mar 06 at 3:33 pm
I’m sorry, but if there is any “lesson” to be learned here it falls on the shoulders of the State worker’s that failed to do their job.
Channel 6 news stated that the school case worker saw no signs of abuse and that Ricky loved Tim and Lisa. PLEASE!
Abused children show signs of love toward their abuser’s for many reasons…one being that they are looking for love and acceptance, and another out of fear. SHAME on this case worker whom is supposedly “educated”. I’ll take the word of the bus driver’s and teacher’s that saw Ricky on a daily basis over some empty suit romping around these schools with her head buried in the sand. One has to wonder, just how far did she go to investigate the allegations of abuse?
I hope she is part of the apparent investigation Jennifer Granholm plans to hold.
My oh my.
Anonymous
3 Mar 06 at 4:30 pm
Enough with the hate and blame towards Ricky’s biological mother. She did not kill this child and the “what if’s” and “lessons to young people” need to stop as it will not put an end to murder and abuse.
However, I do hope Casey understands that love alone is not enough to save her other children. It will take a life time of special care for them to heal from the years of abuse they endured. Rather than fighting to get them back, I hope you consider the idea of trying to stay involved in their lives while they are placed in a home with the patience, love, and understanding of the special needs abused children require over a life time.
This case is receiving national coverage and I can assure you there will be many eyes watching over the welfare of these children. It’s just too bad it took Ricky’s death to provide insight and involvement within the community.
We are all angry. Let’s lose the hate and put that energy changing the system.
Anonymous
3 Mar 06 at 4:58 pm
changing the system would be A good thing and fireing the caseworker who Railroaded Casey would be even better… but she will Prob get off with early retirement..which SUX
KC
3 Mar 06 at 5:33 pm
http://www.fightcps.com/2002_08_25_archive.html
KC,maybe this link can help Casey.I am not a member,but I know they have advocates that might be able to help.
adoptee (not a LESSON nor experiment)
Adopted
3 Mar 06 at 5:47 pm
thank you.. it is a big help
KC
3 Mar 06 at 6:05 pm
One poster commented
“Rather than fighting to get them back, I hope you consider the idea of trying to stay involved in their lives while they are placed in a home with the patience, love, and understanding of the special needs abused children require over a life time.”
I disagree.IF the children are moved yet again(and they may stay where they are) then I believe it should be to Casey’s biological family or the Father’s biological family.That is only if Casey herself can not parent them.Since the state has custody of them yet again,then a kinship placement also qualifies the relatives for stipend payments and fostercare payments.The problem will be the legal definition of kin,since the adoptions were final.In Michigan,I believe the biological family is still considered kin.The resources and training and support of Casey,the father or their kin-is where I want my tax dollars to go.
NOT another adoptive home.I would rather see Casey or her kin get trained as a therapeutic home than have the state chose more STRANGERS.The goal is not to make sure they have an attachment disorder,disassociative disorder,or behavioral disorder,it is to help them heal in a safe environment with their mommy/daddy or kin.Ricky’s torture, abuse and death does not support giving the state another chance to chose a placement.They make deadly choices IMO.
Adopted
4 Mar 06 at 6:19 am
Casey is married to a registered sex offender. She’ll NEVER get those kids.
Does she even have a GED? How is she supposed to support them?
Anonymous
4 Mar 06 at 5:01 pm
I am the original poster stating that I was hopeful Casey would reconsider fighting to regain custody of her children.
If you read my entire post, you may better understand my point.
Again, the blame towards Casey needs to stop. She did not kill her son, okay? HOWEVER, she doesn’t have the means (educated or not) to meet the special needs these children require for the rest of their lives.
Too little too late to expect love and safety alone to heal these children. Casey’s lack of transportation alone shows that she cannot provide for them.
Agreed, the State failed these children but they were failed long before. Does anyone really believe that the above “disorders” are NOT to be addressed?
If Casey couldn’t find the resources in the past, where can she find them now? …..FROM THE STATE? I’ve never heard of training for a therapeutic home.
When you speak of “kin” I must ask this: Do these children even KNOW Casey or any other “next of kin”?
I understand passion, but passion should not interfere with what is in the best interest of the children…period.
What a shame.
Anonymous
4 Mar 06 at 9:51 pm
Why stop blaming Casey? She had kid after kid without being able to support any of them. Her last two kids were taken right at the hospital. She’s married to a registered sex offender. If Ricky had a mother who had her act together, he wouldn’t have had to been put up for adoption.
Anonymous
5 Mar 06 at 12:01 am
Caswell’s second child, Joseph, was just a few months old when he was taken by the state. Caswell traveled to Georgia to have Kathryn, now 3, but she was taken away as soon as Caswell returned to Michigan. And Sam, now 2, was taken right from the hospital at birth.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/METRO/603020339
Anonymous
5 Mar 06 at 12:25 am
ok Since it didnt work last time Im gonna put it back on here… I believe that the children should have thier Birth names back or At least be called them here on the blogs
Joseph is actually Trevor
Kathryn is Sarah
Sam is Brett
just thought you all would like to know
Actually, both of your comments made it onto the blog. If you want to comment on the most recent post you need to click on the header “Ricky Holland Vanished” or title at the top of the blog. Then click on the “0″ next to the title and that will take you to the comment form.
Hope this helps
KC
7 Mar 06 at 8:31 pm
I guess what I want to know is….when is it a sin to be poor?? And my next question is..where were casey’s parents?? I had a daughter at 18 and my daughter had a daughter @ 17….it has never been easy…but I loved her from day 1 and she loved her daughter from day 1…her father and I supported her and our granddaughter..the state helped her some but my home has always been their home…she now has married a fabulous man and has 2 more daughters…a career and a very modest home…but there is love!! they can’t afford the finer things in life…..yet but i never let her give up..there is love!! passed down from generation to generation, there MUST be love!! Love can conquer all!! If these children were not concieved in love….it makes it a real challenge to love them under these cirumstances…I guess i wanna know where were casey’s parents??? Why was not there home open to Casey and her son?? I would go out and kill a squirell for dinner b-4 I let my daughter and grandchild go without food!!And as long as I had a roof over my head…they would too! Yes Casey’s “kin” failed her and so did the system…but she did not know where to turn…she thought she turned in the right direction..but turns out she was going the wrong way…..DO NOT CAST STONES @ PEOPLE WITHOUT LOOKING AT YOURSELF! WE ALL COULD DO MORE! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL….AND KNOW THAT RICKY IS @ PEACE IN A MUCH FINER PLACE THAN THIS UGLY WORLD!
livingstoncograma
9 Mar 06 at 5:00 am
Thank you livingstoncograma.. I dont Know what happened with Casey Parents.. But My Home Was Always open to her and Ricky she Went To the State because my landlord told me to either make her leave or move and I was saving up the money to move but casey thought she could help by goin up to the state and Asking them to help her with a place to live so that I wouldnt get kicked out… the Caseworker she got convinced her that it would be in Lil Ricky’s best interest to put him in Foster care.. then proceeded to make Casey jump hurdles like Gettin an Apartment and A Vehicle and A Full time Job… which wasnt gonna happen and she knew it… Casey loves her kids dearly and this Caseworker railroaded her in Court.. now Im not Saying That Casey isnt At fault because partly she is…. No matter what she shouldnt have ever Stopped fighting and she just finally gave up After brett was taken knowin in the eyes of the Court and this Caseworker she would always be unfit because she didnt have money… She had LOVE… and Love Should be The first brick that is laid done in a home and a house.. so the others who are bashing Casey all the time all I have to say JUDGE NOT LEST YOU BE JUDGED. Thank you
KC
10 Mar 06 at 2:16 am
Why stop blaming Casey? She had kid after kid without being able to support any of them. Her last two kids were taken right at the hospital. She’s married to a registered sex offender. If Ricky had a mother who had her act together, he wouldn’t have had to been put up for adoption.
No her Last TWO kids were not taken Straight From the Hospital thank you.. Brett might have been But SARAH didnt Get taken Until she went back to Michigan…
KC
10 Mar 06 at 2:18 am
KC, I am unsure if you will be revisiting this post, but if you do, I would like for you to read this. I understand that you were a friend to Casey, but friendship has a way of distorting the truth. I realize you have love for Casey, but by you loving her does not make her a fit parent. She should have done many things different. You feel you had insight to her life. Which is great, yet you seem to have no problem blaming everyone else for Caseys problems. She went to the State of Michigan for help. Why didn’t she go to her parents or her husbands kin for help? Why didn’t she go to her grandmother? She seemed helpful when Casey needed to get back to Michigan.
It is easy to blame the State for what you feel is a miscarriage of justice, yet Casey was not innocent in all of this. I pearsonally know that you can find a job with only a 9th grade education. These jobs will not make you rich, and paying bills will always be a struggle, yet you do qualify for many social programs because of you income. Free medical, daycare expenses, housing payment assistance, food stamps, just to mane a few. Be honest KC, how much effort did Casey put into keeping Ricky? She asked the State of Michigan to take Ricky. A homeless shelter would have been a great start. They HELP homeless find places to live. I am sick and tired of you blaming everyone else. What did you do? Oh, I know you could not do anything either, so you say but WHY?
{A portion of this post has been deleted. I will not condone personal attacks directed at other commenters of this blog. If you once again post a person attack directed at another commenter all other posts by you will be deleted and you will be banned from commenting on my blog.}
anonomous
5 Oct 06 at 4:58 pm
I’m so sorry for your loss i’v been keeping up dated on all this sence I herd from a freand of i’m not no names from who
nicole
31 Jan 07 at 6:59 pm