Ricky Holland Vanished

Lisa Holland was sentenced today in a Lansing courthouse by Judge Paula Manderfield to life without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder of her adopted son Ricky Holland of Williamston Township, Michigan. The charge of first-degree child abuse was vacated to avoid the possibility of being sentenced under the rule of double jeopardy.

Most people are happy with the verdict and the sentencing. Many would have liked to see Tim Holland receive the same sentence. Lisa Holland’s sister expressed her disappointment at the verdict and the sentencing stating that her sister is innocent of the charges and that Tim Holland is the guilty party.

It was visible that Lisa Holland had been crying but she declined to speak on her own behalf prior to the sentence being handed down.

Judge Paula Manderfield, paused a few times to choke back sobs during the sentencing. She stated that Lisa Holland buried the family dog but threw her child. She said it was her privilege to sentence Lisa the Michigan Department of Corrections to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Stuart Dunnings III indicated he was ordering the Department of Human Services to release the report regarding the investigation into Ricky’s murder and his time in foster care. The report is expected to be released to the public by Friday.

Stuart Dunnings did not indicate when Ricky’s remains may be released for burial.

I have many questions regarding what happened to Ricky. Unless Lisa Holland decides to speak one day to someone the secret of what happened to Ricky and why will remain with her for the rest of her life.

I am disappointed that the people responsible for placing Ricky in the Holland home and not taking action when abuse was reported are not going to have to answer to criminal charges. It is my opinion that they are criminally responsible for Ricky’s death and need to be held accountable.

Perhaps if and when reform is accomplished in the state of Michigan part of those reforms will address criminal culpability on the part of social workers who neglect to take action to protect a child being abused in a placement.

I am not sure how much longer I will keep this blog open. I will keep it on the Internet so people can always read Ricky’s story here. Within the next few days I will be writing a closure piece of sorts.

I there is anyone reading this blog who would like their comments included in the closure piece please email me using the contact form at the top of the blog.

View the video of the sentencing here.

Today Judge Paula Manderfield sentenced Tim Holland to 30 - 60 years in prison for second degree murder. I am assuming that means Tim Holland will need to serve 30 years before he is able to apply for parole.

Judge Manderfield, during the sentencing, indicated that she was departing from the sentencing guidelines and handing down a harsher sentence because Tim Holland should have and could have saved Ricky’s life by taking him to the hospital when he discovered his injuries during the week of June 24, 2005.

Prior to the sentencing Tim Holland made an emotional statement to the court:

“What I did was wrong. I failed my son and I failed as a father. I failed as a human being. I would gladly exchange my life for his. There isn’t a second that goes by where I don’t think of that smiling face and wonder if it’s not just a bad dream. My life is over. My honor has been taken. My reputation is gone.” [Source]

The full text of Tim Holland’s statement read in court today can be found here.

Yes, Tim what you did and more importantly what you didn’t do was wrong. Yes, Tim you failed your son and you failed as a father. Tim, I don’t believe you would gladly exchange you life for Ricky’s. That is apparent in how you conducted yourself during Ricky’s very short life. You stated in court that your love for your wife was more important than you love for your son. I would imagine this does feel if this is just a bad dream. Most likely Ricky wondered during his short life living under your roof if he was living in a bad dream and someone would wake him up and tell him he was OK and he was safe. Unfortunately, Ricky was living a nightmare under your watch. No, Tim your life is not over. You are still alive - Ricky’s life is over. No one took your honor you gave it away as well as your reputation.

The prosecutor was not surprised at the departure from the sentencing guidelines for Tim Holland. He said anyone would have considered a harsher sentence given the circumstances surrounding Ricky’s torture, murder and cover up of the crime. Tim Holland’s attorney stated that he was disappointed in the sentence but not surprised. He feels because Judge Manderfield deviated from the guidelines there will be cause for an appeal.

I may be wrong, but wasn’t part of the plea agreement reached that Tim Holland could not appeal his sentence? I will need to search for that information.

I sit here writing this and I think about many of the other murder trials I have read about and viewed on CourtTV. I think about the sentencing hearings for these individuals and there are usually family members of the victim making Victim Impact statements prior to the sentencing. The next step is that the convicted party makes his or her statement to the judge and then the judge hands down the sentence.

I don’t know if Michigan allows for Victim Impact statements to be made in court. If they are allowed, how very sad for Ricky that no one made a statement in that courtroom in Lansing, Michigan today stating the impact the loss of Ricky had on them. Not even his biological mother and father made a statement.

How sad is that? Ricky truly did not have anyone in his short life who was impacted by his murder, who has been impacted by him not being here on this earth anymore.