A First Year Anniversary
Story Created: July 2, 2006
The weekend of the Fourth of July 2005 brought two missing children cases to the attention of the public. Evelyn Celeste Miller, age 5 was reported missing from her home in Iowa early on the morning of July 1, 2005. Evelyn had been left in the care of her mother’s then live-in boyfriend Casey Fredrickson while her mother worked the night shift.
When Evelyn’s mother, Noel Miller returned home from her job she found that Evelyn was not in the apartment. She awakened Casey and discovered that he was unaware of Evelyn’s disappearance.
An extensive search was conducted of the community and surrounding areas by many law enforcement personnel as well as community volunteers. After 6 days Evelyn’s body was discovered in the Red Cedar River at a point known as “Devil’s Elbow”.
There has been much speculation over the past year of who was responsible for Evelyn’s abduction and death. Lives have been changed forever. During the investigation it was revealed that Casey Fredrickson had a computer hard drive containing hundreds of images of children performing sex acts. He was taken into custody and he is awaiting sentencing for that charge. He could face 40 years in Federal Prison on those charges.
Noel and Casey Fredrickson’s two children were placed into the foster care system. Recent developments in the life of Noel Miller does not bode well for her having her children returned to her custody any time soon.
During the investigation it was mentioned that Evelyn had an open case with CPS and there had been numerous reports made to CPS over the course of Evelyn’s short life but none of the reports investigated found cause for removing Evelyn from the home.
Law enforcement officials have said little about the investigation into Evelyn’s murder. The only thing they will say is that they are sure that the case will be solved.
Seven-year-old Ricky Holland was reported missing from his Williamston Township, Michigan home on the morning of July 2, 2005. His adoptive parents, Tim and Lisa Holland reported him as a runaway. Many people gave up their holiday weekend and searched in the sweltering Michigan temperatures but to no avail.
Tim and Lisa Holland made many statements during the search indicating they hoped that Ricky would be found and that their lives were not the same without Ricky. They showed the community an entirely different face of who they were.
Seven months after Ricky’s reported disappearance Tim Holland led investigators to where he hand dumped Ricky’s body. Both Tim and Lisa Holland now stand accused of open murder in the death of Ricky Holland. Their trial is scheduled to begin on September 11, 2006; 3 days after what would have been Ricky’s ninth birthday.
Two communities are gathering together today at the same time to hold candlelight vigils. Two communities mourning and remembering that hot summer weekend last year. Two communities left wondering why their children were murdered.
Evelyn’s Candlelight Vigil is scheduled for 8 p.m. in the park next to the Floyd Community Center.
There are two Candlelight Vigils planned for this evening for Ricky Holland. Ricky’s biological family is hold a vigil at 7 p.m. at the Walmart near Eastwood Towne Center, and my group Rallies for Ricky is holding a vigil at McCormick Park in Williamston at 8 p.m.
I just read a small story that there may be a break in the Evelyn Miller case. There has been one arrest made regarding a person making false statements to FBI agents regarding the whereabouts of one of his friends the night Evelyn disappeared from her home. If I find out anything else I will blog about it on my other blog The Missing and Murdered Children.
Candle Light Vigil
Story Created: June 15, 2006
A candle light vigil is planned to commemorate the first anniversary of Ricky Holland’s reported disappearance and assumed death. Clicking on the thumbnail image will take you to a larger version of a map for the location of McCormick Park.
When: Sunday July 2, 2006
Time: Dusk
Where: McCormick Park – High St and Putnam St – Williamston, MI
Sponsored by: Rallies for Ricky
Email me for details using the email link under the “Contact Me” page at the top of this blog.
If you do plan to attend, please sign up at Rallies for Ricky Forum under the topic “I Plan to Attend the Candle Light Vigil”.
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