Ricky Holland Vanished

Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Paula Manderfield instructed jurors on how they should apply the law to the evidence they have heard and seen. The jury was told it could consider two counts: open murder, which jurors could decide was first-degree felony murder, second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter or accessory after the fact of murder; and first-degree child abuse, which could include lesser degrees of child abuse. [Source]

The jurors have been given quite a bit of leeway for convicting Lisa Holland. It will not be that easy to come to a unanimous verdict with all of the choices available.

What do you think based on the choices?

Choice One: Open Murder

1. First-degree felony murder
2. Second-degree murder
3. Involuntary manslaughter
4. Accessory after the fact of murder

Choice Two: First-degree child abuse

1. Second-degree child abuse
2. Third-degree child abuse
3. Fourth-degree child abuse

After seeing all of the choices I think the jury will come back with a verdict of Second-degree murder and a verdict of child abuse in the first-degree. Although, they could also consider involuntary manslaughter and first-degree child abuse. The involuntary manslaughter would only come from them if the believe that Ricky died at the hands of Lisa by accident.

The case against Lisa Holland is complete and closing arguments will begin today. If closing arguments are completed today then the jury will be handed the case and begin to deliberate the guilt or innocence of Lisa Holland in the abuse and murder of her 7-year-old adopted son, Ricky Holland from Williamston, MI.

I fully expected the defense to call more witnesses in their client’s defense. The defense called only 5 witnesses – 3 police officers, Lisa’s sister, her mother and her father. As I wrote yesterday, Lisa’s father exercised his 5th amendment right to avoid answering questions that might incriminate him in the murder or abuse of his grandson. At the last minute the defense chose to not call Lisa Holland’s brother, Bob Taylor to the stand.

I believe that it would have helped Lisa’s defense if she would have taken the stand. Lisa’s sister testified that Tim was the disciplinarian in the family and that he was controlling regarding his wife. She testified that Tim thought all doctors were “quacks”. She claimed that Lisa loved all of her children.

Lisa’s mother testified that she loved Ricky and had a nickname for him – Mr. Sunshine – because she loved him so much. She said she believed Lisa when she said Ricky ran away from home because he had done so in the past. The time she found out that the story was not true was when she heard on the news that Ricky’s remains had been located.

Prior to Lisa’s mother taking the stand she spoke to an attorney due to possible perjury issues.

I do not believe the state has proven it’s case beyond a reasonable doubt as to the murder charge. I do believe they have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Lisa Holland was an abusive parent. I think the jury will find Lisa Holland not guilty on the murder charge and guilty on the first-degree child abuse charge.

What do you think?

The State’s Case

The State called fifty witnesses to the stand during the six week trial. Below is some of the testimony of some of the witnesses called by the state.

Witnesses for the Prosecution

Vicki Harrison Myers – Ingham County sheriff’s chief deputy: [Source]

Deputy Harrison Myers testified that Tim Holland was more affectionate and emotional compared to Lisa.

“…She said she saw the Hollands and their other four children several times and said the children had a much more affectionate relationship with Tim Holland.

On July 5, Harrison Myers, testified, she went to the house to tell them that a social worker would come to meet with the family. Tim Holland became very emotional; Lisa stood in the living room and said nothing, Harrison Myers said…”

Susan Honeck – Social Worker: [Source]

Susan Honeck served as Ricky’s therapist for 10 months while Ricky was a foster child in the Holland home. She testified regarding her discovery of signs of physical abuse on Ricky. She said she saw what appeared to be rope burns on Ricky’s left wrist.

“…When she asked about the burns, which Honeck described as very severe, Ricky told her: “It’s from the rope that they tie me in bed with at night,” Honeck testified.

That same day, the Jackson County social worker said, she filed a child abuse and neglect report with Child Protective Services. But a week later, she received a notice that her report had not been substantiated.

During a play therapy session the next week, Honeck noticed Ricky’s wrist was healing.

Ricky told her, she said, that Lisa Holland had made a deal with him.

“I won’t pee on the floor, and she won’t tie me up,” Honeck recalled Ricky saying.

Honeck also said February 2002 was the only time she noticed injuries or suspected abuse…”

Molly Brown – DHS analyst: [Source]

Molly Brown testified that the Holland’s received a $907 monthly subsidy for Ricky’s care.

“…About $450 of that was based on Ricky’s special needs, said Molly Brown, a DHS analyst. She said Ricky qualified for the highest dollar amount, based on documentation provided by Lisa Holland…”

Peggy Cox – Ricky’s first grade teacher: [Source]

She testified about Lisa’s insistence that Ricky wear a harness when riding on the special education bus. The harness was prescribed by a Jackson child psychiatrist.

“…But Peggy Cox, a teacher at Cascades Elementary in Jackson, said she refused to put Ricky in the harness.When asked why, she said, “It would be humiliating.”…”

Melissa Sewell – DHS adoption specialist: [Source]

“…Melissa Sewell, a DHS adoption specialist, testified that during a visit to the Hollands’ Jackson home, she noticed a video camera mounted in a corner of the ceiling.

She said it appeared to be a surveillance camera…”

Zandra Galloway – psychometrist: [Source]

Zandra Galloway administered neuropsycological testing in 2001 to Ricky at the request of Catholic Charities.

“…She described a 3-year-old Ricky as “friendly immediately,” “somewhat squirmy” and eager to please Lisa Holland…”

The results of the tests administered showed Ricky was devoloping approriately for his age according to Galloway’s testimony. She also testified she believed that Ricky had a positive relationship with his mother and she never suspected child abuse. She did note that Ricky asked her several times: “Can you tell Momma I did a good job?” Upon further questioning by Mr. Ferency she said the statement stuck in her mind as significant because Ricky used the statement more than once during the testing period.

Barbara Patrick – Ricky’s Head Start Teacher: [Source]

Barabara Patick testified that Ricky could be defiant and agreesive and he exhibited agressive behavior during one three-week period. During that period of time he kicked or swung at teachers.

She also testified that Lisa asked her to provide daily reports of Ricky’s behavior, but at some point she refused Lisa’s requests. Patrick also stated that Lisa once asked her if she knew if Ricky would qualify for government financial assistance if he had ADHD or oppositional defiant disorder.

“…But Patrick also described several symptoms Ricky displayed that indicated he suffered from behavioral issues, including attention-span problems and hyperactivity.”He requires several reminders for almost all directions,” Patrick wrote in a report…”

Andrew Palmer – Official from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan: [Source]

This testimony indicated that Ricky continued to receive prescription medications months after his last doctor’s visit. The last doctor visit billed for Ricky was July 9, 2004. However, prescriptions were filled in August and November 2004.

Detective Billy Mitchell – Ingham County sheriff’s detective: [Source]

Detective Mitchell testified about blood evidence found in the Holland home nine days after Ricky’s reported disappearance.

“…Detective Billy Mitchell said the owner of a company the Hollands hired to clean Ricky’s room notified police about the discovery.

Bloodstains were found on the left sleeve of one of Ricky’s shirts and around the collar.

Blood also was found on a pair of Ricky’s white socks and on a baseboard outside of his room.

Lisa Holland told Mitchell the blood came from a nosebleed Ricky had two days before he was reported missing.

In his cross-examination of Mitchell, Lisa Holland’s co-counsel Mike Nichols asked him if police knew whether Tim Holland killed Ricky.

“I don’t know if Tim killed Ricky,” Mitchell responded…”

Dr. Jerel Del Dotto – psychologist: [Source]

Dr. Del Dotto was contracted to evaluate Ricky by Catholic Charities. He testified that he never suspected physical or emotional abuse during the evaluations. His opinion was that the relationship between Ricky and Lisa Holland was a normal relationship. He did say that Lisa’s reporting of symptoms indicated more severe behavior problems than were observed by himself or Ricky’s teachers. Dr. Del Dotto eventually diagnosed Ricky with “disruptive behavior disorder”.

Marcia Polly – Jackson special education school bus driver: [Source]

Marcia Polly testified that despite repeated reassurances to Lisa Holland that Ricky’s behavior was “perfect”, Lisa always wanted to know if there was a problem. Polly also testified that Lisa wanted her to document Ricky’s behavior so she could have something to give to Ricky’s doctor. It was her opinion that Ricky did not need to ride the special education bus to Cascades Elementary school. She further testified that she chose to not use the prescribed harness on Ricky while he rode the bus. She and a co-worker were reprimanded by their supervisor for not using the harness on Ricky after Lisa complained to the school.

Suzanne Leach – school psychologist: [Source]

Suzanne Leach was part of a team of specialists assigned to evaluate Ricky to see if he could be assigned the designation of a special needs child through the school district. According to Leach’s testimony, Ricky’s teachers described a different child than his mother described. She tried to convey to Lisa how bright Ricky was but Lisa did not seem happy with the news. Ricky was removed from the school a few weeks after it was deteremined Ricky did not qualify for services as a special needs child.

Dr. Jon Lake – Holland family physician: [Source]

Dr. Jon Lake treated the entire Holland family and was Ricky’s physician of record from January 2001 to September 2002. He testified that Lisa called him frequently with child-rearing questions including sleeping and eating problems, fever management and Tylenol dosages.

Dr. Lake testified that he never suspected abuse in the Holland home. He never treated Ricky after the September 2002 appointment and no requests were made from other physicians for Ricky’s medical records. Dr. Lake stated that he referred Ricky to child psychiatrist Dr. Aurif Abed based on concerns expressed by Lisa that Ricky was hard to control at home.

Detective Sgt. Frank Mraz – Michigan State Police: [Source]

Detective Sgt. Frank Mraz testified about the January day when Tim Holland led investigators the area where Ricky’s remains were dumped.

“…Mraz testified that as Tim Holland slowly walked toward the scene, about 15 to 20 feet from Williamston Road, he started to weep, fell to his knees and said, “Oh, my God, what have I done? What have I done?”…”

Felicity Rall – Lisa’s hairdresser: [Source]

Felicity Rall testified about the day in early July 2005 when Lisa Holland came to the Williamston beauty salon to have her eyebrows waxed. According to Rall’s testimony Lisa tolder she “just needed to go on with her life”. At this point Ricky had been missing three days. Ms. Rall considered the comment “odd”. She also testified that in late July Lisa gave her a card that reads :”Jesus gives me life. In memory of Ricky”. Also, according to Rall’s testimony sometime before Christmas Lisa told her she bought gifts for Ricky “for when he came home”.

Dr. Aurif Abedi – Ricky’s psychiatrist: [Source]

Dr. Abedi testified he saw Ricky approximately 30 times between September 2001 and July 2004. He also never suspected abuse in the Holland home.

Dr. Abedi testified that he diagnosed Ricky with attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder, bipolar disorder and oppositional defiance disorder; prescribing several medications for the various disorders.

He saw Ricky every three to four weeks and relied mostly on information supplied by Lisa Holland, school records, and letters from teachers to arrive at the diagnoses. He stated he had no reason to believe Lisa was not telling him the truth.

He recalled one incident in his office when Ricky was hitting himself during a session. Tim Holland was at the session and comforted Ricky by holding him.

The last visit with Ricky was July 9, 2004 and he stated he would be concerned about someone with Ricky’s problems not being treated by someone. “His conditions were chronic, and he needed to have ongoing care.”

Richard Cole – Williamston neighbor: [Source]

Richard Cole testified about an incident that occurred in May 2005 when he found Ricky in his kitchen, standing in front of his refrigerator, drinking a bottle of iced tea. Mr. Cole testified that Ricky told him “They don’t want me anymore” – “They said I’m a pain. They want another baby.”

Mr. Coles observation of Ricky’s physical appearance was as skinny with long hair, a chipped tooth and stitches on his chin that did not appear to have been stitched by medical personnel.

Mike Nichols, co-counsel for Lisa Holland tried to shake Cole’s testimony by mentioning the variations he had described the incident in past conversations with law enforcement.

Mr. Cole states that after Ricky finished the iced tea, Ricky took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and began to drink that as well. He then told Cole to “Make me some eggs. I’m hungry.” Mr. Cole led Ricky out of the kitchen and Ricky grabbed a couple of bananas and ate both of them.

Mr. Cole figured out which house Ricky had come from, he had never met his parents and he walked Ricky home. Ricky pulled a soda bottle out of a trash can by the curb and began drinking it. That was the last time he saw Ricky.

Randall Cook – Jackson elementary school principal: [Source] [Source]

Principal Cook first saw Ricky when he was tethered to his mother by a “lead or a leash” while Lisa walked him into Frost Elementary school to enroll him in the second grade. At that time Lisa told Principal Cook that they could expect a lot of trouble from Ricky.

Principal Cook testified that during a meeting to determine if Ricky could be designated as a special needs student was the first time in his career as a principal that both parents had nothing positive to say abou their child.

He testified that during the meeting Lisa described Ricky as having many problems but the school officials had not seen the same negative behavior. Soon after that meeting when the Holland’s were told that Ricky did not meet the criteria for a special needs student, Lisa said she was removing Ricky from the school to home school him. Principal Cook testified that while he was concerned about Ricky, he never saw any abuse and never reported abuse to child protective services regarding Ricky.

Carol Coxon – Jackson elementary school nurse: [Source]

Carol Coxon testified that she first reported suspected child abuse regarding Ricky during his first grade year. He showed up in her office with more than 10 small coin-shaped bruises across his back and chest. She said she had never seen anything like it before. She phoned Lisa to tell her about the bruises and Lisa told her the bruises were from the harness he wore on the bus. However, when Carol Coxon discussed the concern with the transportation staff, she was told they were not using the harness on Ricky. She then called child protective services even though Ricky had not complained about the bruises. She agreed with Lisa’s col-counsel Mr. Abood, that she could not confirm that Lisa Holland had done anything to cause the bruises. There was another incident which caused Ms. Coxon to phone child protective services and report suspected abuse regarding Ricky.

JoAnn Perkins – Williamston neighbor: [Source]

JoAnn Perkins testified about an incident that occurred in her Williamston home one evening when she found Ricky in her kitchen going through her refrigerator. She said she gave Ricky a peanut butter sandwich, jice and and ice cream bar. He asked her if he could stay there. This incident happened about two weeks after he was found going through the refrigerator of another neighbor.

Krystal Pierce – Ingham County Jail inmate who befriended Lisa: [Source]

Krystal Pierce testified that in April Lisa told her Ricky’s death was an accident and she never meant to kill him. According to Ms. Pierce, Lisa stated to her that Ricky had knocked over a “knickknack” so Lisa threw a hammer at him. She then picked up the hammer and hit him again. She hit him, but did not think it would cause his death. Lisa, according to Krystal Pierce passed her several notes. In one of the notes Lisa states “the truth needs to be told. It was an accident. I didn’t mean to.”

At one point Ms. Pierce asked Lisa if Ricky suffered before he died. Lisa shook her head in the affirmative. Lisa told her Tim disposed of Ricky’s body because he didn’t want Lisa to see what happened to Ricky.

Cross-examination of Krystal Pierce revealed she has a history of drug use, and she admitted she has lied to police before in other cases. She also said Lisa told her that Tim Holland was abusive and she was scared of him at times.

Crystal Mountain – Ingham County Jail inmate – also befriended Lisa: [Source]

Crystal Mountain testified that Lisa told her in early February that she hit Ricky in the head with a hammer because he was whining. According to Crystal’s account, Lisa told her she was sorry – she didn’t mean to hit him as hard as she did. She confided that the incident happened near Ricky’s bedroom.

According to questioning under Mr. Ferency when asked why Crystal came to police with the information she said she had troubling eating and sleeping. She said she just could not keep the secret. She also testified that Lisa blamed her husband for their incarceration. Lisa stated “it’s all his fault we’re in this mess.”

Lisa’s taped interview – January 2006: [Source]

“…Lisa rambled in the January interview with a police detective. She speculated her husband might tell police she hit Ricky and that he fell into a wall.

“He’ll say that I was in one of my moods,” Lisa Holland told Ingham County sheriff’s Detective Brian Valentine.

During the interview, Valentine asked Holland to imagine several scenarios, including one where her husband implicated her in Ricky’s death.

“He’s lying. I did not do it,” she said, later adding: “I don’t want to get blamed for this.”

In a portion of the interview played Wednesday, Holland answered questions as if she didn’t know Ricky was dead, but then hinted at several locations where police might find his body.

At one point, she told Valentine her husband didn’t like to drive near the Dansville State Game Area. The day after the interview, Tim Holland led police to Ricky’s remains in a marshlike section of the state-owned land…”

Lisa’s taped interview – January 2006: [Source]

“…I’m not taking the rap for something he did,” Lisa Holland told Ingham County Sheriff’s Detective Brian Valentine during the interview, referring to Tim Holland.

At the time of the January interview, Lisa Holland was being held at the Ingham County Jail on charges she assaulted her husband. She asked to meet with detectives, saying she was concerned her children were about to be placed with Tim Holland’s family.

She denied abusing Ricky or any of the couple’s four young children. Three of the children are Ricky’s siblings whom the Hollands also adopted.

“I’ve never hit my kids with anything,” she said, adding that her husband “has a tendency to fly off the handle.”

Toward the end of the 5 1/2-hour interview, Lisa Holland asked for Detective Lt. Roy Holliday, who directed and coordinated the investigation into Ricky’s disappearance.

With Holliday in the room, she began to reveal more about what she knew, but then hesitated: “If I say what I’m going to say, I’m never going to see (my children) again.”

Holliday asked her to continue.

“I think Tim took (Ricky) out of the house,” she said as she began to describe the night of July 1.

She said her husband told her Ricky had thrown up in his bedroom. He then asked her to bring garbage bags, telling her not to go into Ricky’s room.

Later, Tim Holland emerged from the room carrying garbage bags, she said.

“Do you think Tim killed Ricky?” Holliday asked.

“I think he did,” she said…”

Detective Brian Valentine – Ingham County Sheriff’s Office: [Source]

Detective Valentine described items seized in a September 6, 2005 search of the Holland home.

One item, a Valentine’s Day card from Lisa’s father, Tom Taylor, addressed to all of the children except Ricky.

Valentine also testified police found four prescription bottles for Ricky – filled in August or November 2004 – still containing more than half of the pills.

Tim Holland – Ricky Holland’s adoptive father: [Source]

Tim Holland’s testimony began with the recollection of his childhood. According to his testimony he came from an abusive homelife in West Virginia. He was the son of Paul and Jerldine Holland. Just 3 months short of his 7th birthday his mother either died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or was murdered by his father. The issue was never resolved. After the death of his mother Tim first went to live with his sister and her husband in another part of West Virginia. Problems developed with his father harrassing the sister’s family so it was decided Tim would go to Michigan to live with his Aunt Arcie and Uncle Wildon Holland. Tim’s Aunt Arcie is his mother’s sister; Tim’s Uncle Wildon is his father’s brother.

Paul Holland came to Michigan and tried to regain custody of his son and child protective services became involved – Paul Holland’s parental rights were revoked and Arcie and Wildon Holland adopted Tim.

Tim had a pretty uneventful life growing up in Michigan – graduating from DeWitt High School in 1987. Tim Holland joined the Army soon after graduation and excelled in computer technology, handling classified information, and sharpshooting. He became a counterintelligence agent, earning several decorations and awards during his stint in the Army.

Two years after leaving the Army, in 1998, Tim Holland obtained employment with Jackson County Friend of the Court. In his job capacity he served warrants on deadbeat dads and escorted them back to Jackson to face charges.

During his employment with Jackson County Friend of the Court, Tim Holland met then Lisa Taylor in an online chatroom. They married in 1999, settling into married life in Jackson, MI. When they thought they could not have children they applied for and were granted a foster care license in August 2000. Ricky was one of the first children placed in the newly licensed Holland foster home.

Tim Holland left the Friend of the Court in May 2001 for a better-paying job as a civilian counterterrorism analyst for the Army, assigned to a military intelligence support team based in Detroit. He eventually earned close to $80,000 a year.

Ricky was reported missing by Tim Holland via a 9-1-1 call to Ingham County Sheriff.

During the search for Ricky, Tim and Lisa Holland made statements in the media both expressing their sorrow and concern for their missing son and begging for the public’s help to find him.

A series of search warrants were served on the Holland residence beginning in September 2005. During one of those search warrants computers were seized as well as additonal hard drives. One hard drive from a Army issued laptop contained thousands of pornographic images. That laptop was turned over to the Army by the Sheriff’s office when it was realized it contained classified information.

The Army began to investigate the contents of the laptop hard drive and that investigation revealed Tim Holland was using the laptop to make contact with persons online for sexual encounters.

The Army decided based upon the illegal use of the work computer to fire Tim Holland.

“In a memo dated Jan. 20, 2006, John H. Barnett, special agent in charge of Holland’s unit, the 902nd Military Intelligence Group, fired Holland.”

Tim Holland told his wife Lisa about the loss of his job sometime after January 20th. An argument ensued and at one point Lisa Holland through a hair dryer at Tim while he was in the shower. Tim Holland went to police on or about January 26th. Lisa Holland was arrested on domestic violence charges and Tim Holland led detectives to Ricky’s remains on January 27th.

Tim Holland – The Week Before Ricky’s Death: [Source]

“…Tim Holland – at the time a civilian employee with the Army – said he returned on June 24, 2005, from an out-of-town assignment to find Ricky injured. The boy wasn’t speaking coherently and spent most of his time in his bedroom.

Lisa Holland said Ricky had dived head-first into a kiddie pool bought by her mother. Tim Holland said the pool wasn’t even set up.

The next day, Tim Holland testified, he tried to take Ricky to a doctor, but Lisa “grabbed his free hand and yanked him away from me … and said she was going to take him.”

Lisa and Ricky left for two or three hours, he testified. When they returned, blood still was in the boy’s hair and there were no stitches…”

Tim Holland sprained his ankle on June 30, 2005 and went to the doctor to have it treated. He never mentioned to medical personnel that he had a child he believed was either close to death at home or in grave condition with a possible head injury. He claims he did not mention Ricky while he was at the doctor because he was afraid of his wife.

Tim Holland – The Day Ricky Died: [Source]

“…On July 1, the day he said Ricky died, Tim Holland testified, the boy’s eyelids were half open, his legs like lead.

When his favorite show, “SpongeBob SquarePants,” was on TV, Ricky didn’t pay attention, Tim Holland said. That night at dinner, Ricky had to be propped up in his chair and braced against the table.

Tim Holland said he put Ricky to bed, helped Lisa get their other children in bed, then went to a gas station to buy Lisa a treat.

He testified that when he came back, Lisa’s father, Tom Taylor – who had come by earlier in the day – was sitting in an easy chair by the door. Tim Holland said he asked him what he was still doing there and that he told Lisa that Taylor needed to leave.

Tim Holland described his wife as agitated, nervous and upset.

He said he could see a light on in Ricky’s bedroom. He started to go there, but she insisted they go to bed.

Holland sobbed Wednesday as he testified he walked into the bedroom, saw Ricky lying in bed in the fetal position, with “red stuff all over his face and down the front of his shirt.”

Ricky didn’t have a pulse, and Holland said he couldn’t hear a heartbeat…”

Tim Holland – The Disposal of Ricky’s Body: [Source]

Tim Holland testified after finding Ricky dead in his bedroom, Lisa Holland told him “to get his body out of the house.”

According to direct testimony, Tim Holland rolled the boy’s body into a fitted sheet, got two garbage bags – one white, one black – from under the kitchen sink. He put Ricky into the white bag and tied it, then put that in the black bag.

He then set the body down on the floor near a couch in the living room.

Meanwhile, Lisa was packing a backpack with pants, shirts and socks.

Tim Holland said he’d planned to leave their Williamston home at 10 p.m., but his mother called, so he left at about 11 p.m. or 11:30 p.m. He took the backpack with him because Lisa told him to.

He removed Ricky’s body from the house, putting it in the back of his pickup and drove to the rural area near Dansville.

He testified h decided to put the body there because on a drive from Jackson, where the family formerly lived, Lisa had said it would be a good place to dump a body.

After lifting the body from the truck bed, he said: “I crouched down as low as I could, and put Ricky’s body into the water.”

Tim Holland – His Lies and Why: [Source] [Source]

Tim Holland testified about the various lies he has told throughout the who story and why he told those lies.

“…Holland said he gave false statements because he feared losing his family. He said the lying got out of control, and he didn’t know how to stop…”

“…Holland recounted how he lied to detectives Jan. 27 when he told them his wife, Lisa Holland, pulled Ricky out of the boy’s bedroom and struck him in the head with a hammer, leaving him in a pool of blood in the hallway…”

“…You never saw Lisa hit Ricky in the head with a hammer?” Lisa Holland’s co-counsel Andrew Abood asked Thursday during his cross-examination.

“That is correct,” Tim Holland said, later adding there was never a pool of blood…”

“…Tim Holland told a detective on Jan. 27 that Lisa took Ricky’s body out of the house. But later in the same interview, he admitted he removed the boy’s body from the house.

Tim Holland said he lied in a Feb. 7 jailhouse conversation with his adoptive mother, Arcie Holland, when he said Ricky’s younger brother might have seen Lisa kill Ricky.

He also admitted keeping a document at work outlining his false story…”

“…Abood also tried to cast doubt on Tim Holland’s story about the night Ricky died.

On Wednesday, Tim Holland described how the family ate dinner from KFC. He said Lisa wouldn’t let Ricky eat fried chicken legs and mashed potatoes – Ricky’s favorite – and instead tried to feed him a plate of cole slaw.

From the stand Thursday, Tim Holland used a cell phone to dial a number that records show was called from the Hollands’ home in the early evening of July 1, 2005.

A recorded voice answered: “Thanks for calling Hungry Howie’s of Williamston.”

Hungry Howie’s is a pizzeria…”

Prosecutor Mike Ferency asked Tim why the jury should believe his testimony. Tim’s response:

“…Through sobs, Holland said, “Because I am standing here before you now to take responsibility for my role in my son’s death…”

Ann Gordon – Michigan State Police Forensic Scientist: [Source]

Ann Gordon testified that a T-Shirt stained with Ricky’s blood shows that the configuration of the blood drippings on the shirt would be consistent with a wound on the top or back of Ricky’s head. The blood either dripping from his hair or brushed against the shirt like a paintbrush.

Ann Gordon also testified about other blood stains found in the Holland home.

“…A few tiny “spatter stains” were found on a wall between a television and DVD cabinet, Gordon said. The tiny streaks and droplets, she said, were “the result of blood that received some force.”
DNA tests revealed the blood came from the male child of Ricky’s biological parents – meaning it was overwhelmingly likely Ricky’s.

The 31 shredded pieces of the T-shirt were sealed in a plastic Ziploc bag, which was discovered inside a backpack Lisa Holland tried to take from the family’s Williamston home during a Sept. 6 police search…”

Dr. Joyce deJong – Forensic Pathologist: [Source] [Source]

Dr. deJong made a change to her original opinion regarding Ricky’s cause of death. She said the manner of death was never in dispute – it was always murder. What has been in dispute is the cause of death. She now feels based on the testimony of Tim Holland describing Ricky’s final days that Ricky died from complications of a head wound caused by a blow from a hammer.

She said Ricky was probably in shock and slowly declining into death. This medical evaluation is based on Tim Holland’s statements of Ricky not being able to take in food or water over several days, not being able to support his small body and his body feeling cold to the touch

Dr. deJong further stated that the description by Tim Holland of Ricky’s legs at one point being stiff is a “very ominous sign of what is happening” – it could have been a sign of Ricky’s brain swelling.

Dr. deJong also discussed fractures to Ricky’s shoulder, which she said happened about the time of death. The shoulder injury sustained by Ricky is the type often seen in abused children – it happens when the arm is violentally pulled.

Regarding the fracture to the left side of Ricky’s face that was partially healed – that would have been painful, with swelling and possible bleeding. That injury could have been sustained by a blow to the face with a fist, hand or other object.

Dr. deJong stated that at autopsy Ricky’s remains viewed in X-rays shows his body curled up in the fetal position. There was no soft tissue remaining for her to examine.

Based on examination of the bones and other documents Dr. deJong stated Ricky most likely suffered from “Failure to Thrive”. He was not developing at a normal rate at the time of his death. This was most likely because he was not receiving adequate nutrition.

Dr. deJong said based on a review of Ricky’s medical records in his first two years of life he was growing at a normal rate. Ricky’s rate of growth began to decline when he became a foster child in the Holland home at age 3 years.
In the first two years of his life, Ricky’s development was normal, deJong testified.

“…A day after describing how Ricky Holland died slowly from a head injury, a forensic pathologist admitted she could not confirm if the 7-year-old had been struck in the head with a hammer.

Dr. Joyce deJong said her physical examination of Ricky’s badly decomposed remains showed no signs of a skull fracture.

But based on her review of Tim Holland’s court testimony, the Sparrow Hospital forensic pathologist determined Ricky died from complications of a head wound caused by a hammer blow.

You’re assuming what he said is true?” Lisa Holland’s co-counsel Andrew Abood asked.

“Correct,” deJong said.

Under questioning from Abood, deJong also said that because of a lack of soft tissue, she could not rule out suffocation, strangulation, abdominal trauma or poisoning as causes of Ricky’s death.

She also could not say if Ricky was alive or dead when his body was placed inside two garbage bags and dumped in a rural, marshlike area near Dansville.

DeJong also admitted Tim Holland never described a black eye or facial swelling, which she said should have resulted from a fracture found on Ricky’s skull that appeared to be healing.

It was possible, she said, that injury could have occurred more than a month before Ricky died.

She said Tim Holland never described symptoms of a shoulder injury, despite fractures found in that area of Ricky’s skeleton…”