Ricky Holland Vanished

I first heard this evening in the comments section of this blog from Casey Jo Caswell that Ricky was buried today. She mentioned in the comments that she ‘heard’ from someone where her ‘baby boy’ was buried. I can’t think of a more heartless thing to have to find out from strangers or maybe even from the news that your son or daughter has been buried. The only other more heartless thing I can think of hearing via a stranger or the news media is that your son’s remains have been found discarded in a marsh.

I wish the people who were granted the ‘right’ to do ‘right’ by Ricky in death could have mustered up the courage to do ‘right’ by Ricky in life. Unfortunately, until people such as the Holland’s and the Taylor’s step out of the shadows there will still be many more Ricky Gann’s in Michigan foster care because child abuse thrives in the darkness of secrets and lies. Clearly the Holland’s and the Taylor’s have not decided to step out of the shadows and into the light because they had to bury their shame in secret. Ricky deserved so much more.

Casey suggested she may hold a memorial service for Ricky. I believe that memorial service might be open to the public.

I decided to post this entry only after I read about Ricky’s burial in the Lansing State Journal. If I had not read the article I would not have posted the information without the consent of Ricky’s mother, Casey Jo Caswell.

Ricky Gann was buried under the last name Holland at:

St. Joseph’s Cemetery
2520 W Willow St
Lansing, MI 48917
(517) 484-8788

Source:

Lansing State Journal: Ricky Holland Laid to Rest

A hearing was held this week in Lansing, Michigan before Judge Economy. The hearing was held to determine who should have the responsibility of disposing of Ricky Holland’s remains. It cannot be put any prettier than what it is – his bones are stilled housed in an evidence locker and someone needs to be given the legal authority to make the burial arrangements.

Basically the state, in the name of the Coroner, petitioned the court for the dubious and long-overdue honor. The petition seemed pretty detailed, listing all of the people who had been in Ricky’s short life – 7 years on this earth who had failed for one reason or another to pass the legal hurdles. The list was long. It was sad to sit and read all of the names mentioned who had some sort of possible legal attachment to bury Ricky – many who may have been able to save his life. Half of who were never mentioned during the murder trial of his adoptive mother, Lisa Taylor Holland.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that out of all of the adults in Ricky’s life there is not one legally responsible for this young child. Not even in death is there an adult relative available for Ricky.

All concerned parties were served with the petition and apprised of the date of the hearing.

Very much absent from the court proceedings were Ricky’s biological mother, Casey Caswell and biological father, Ricky Gann. I suppose that should not be a big surprise since their parental rights were revoked when Ricky was just 3-years-old. However, I am a bit surprised that Casey did not appear to challenge the petition in court arguing her right to bury her first-born son.

In early 2006, a couple of months after Ricky’s remains were recovered from a marsh, Casey Caswell made a formal request for her son’s remains so she could bury him. Apparently that formal request was denied. I know many people would disagree with me on this point, including my daughter. I really feel the right thing to do in this situation is to quietly and discreetly restore Casey’s parental rights to Ricky so she could bury her son. I know I will get comments about this but that is truly how I feel.

Now about the comments. If you choose to leave a comment regarding my feelings about Casey Caswell I will tell you right now if those comments are vile and ugly they will be deleted and will not appear in the comments section. On the other hand, if you have your own respectfully worded opinion in opposition to my opinion then that comment will make it through to the comments section.

Below is the letter written to the attorney filing the petition on behalf of the Ingham County Coroner. Recall I mentioned previously that all concerned parties received a copy of the petition. Well, that list included Tim and Lisa Holland. The petition pretty much argues the reasons under the law why Tim and Lisa Holland no longer have the legal authority to bury their son. Because they are convicted of murdering him.

But Tim Holland, not to be outdone decided for some god forsaken reason to file a response to the petition with the court. Well, I guess that is his right.

I copied the letter (including the errors) directly from the .gif link posted on the Lansing State Journal website. Rebuttal to his arguments are mine in block-quotes.

March 16, 2007

Mr. George M. Brookover (P25391)
Special Assistant Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney
Brookover, Carr & Schaberg, P.C.
1005 Abbott Road
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
(517) 336-4300

Reference: File Number: 07-383-ML

Sir,

I’m in receipt of your Petition and Proof of Service. I don’t understand the need for a hearing.

My comment:

Tim, there is a need for a hearing because your son’s bones are still stored in an evidence locker. Someone needs to take responsibility for Ricky and give him a proper burial. You failed to take responsibility for your child and that is why you are sitting in prison and your son’s bones are in an evidence locker.

I was under the impression that my son’s remains were still required as evidence by the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office.

My comment:

Tim, I am sorry you were not kept in the loop. It seems you are still drooling at the prospect that someone else will be tried for your son’s death and you and Lisa will not be the only one’s paying for his death. We assure you Tim, unlike you, we are taking every step necessary to preserve the integrity of your son’s remains. We will make sure Ricky’s remains do not end up thrown into a marsh.

On, December 18, 2006; I met with Mr. Michael Ferency, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and he stated that mausoleum space and Funeral arrangements had be donated for my some.

My comment:

Tim, someone else is stepping up to the plate to take responsibility for your son, after you and your wife murdered him. Oh, but I forgot, you don’t see yourself as a murderer. You see yourself as a victim. Instead of stating your understanding, it would be nice if you just said ‘Thank you’ and then slither back to your cell.

He stated that my son’s body had to be stored above ground, per Dr. Fenton’s suggestion. I informed him that I had no problem with that. My attorney, Mr. Sam Reedy, at the time was present.

My comment:

Wow, how big of you to tell Mike Ferency that you had ‘no problem’ with Ricky being buried above ground in a donated crypt. It truly amazes me how you can now be so concerned about how Ricky’s remains will be handled and if they are handled according to the law and to the agreements you reached with prosecutors. It is too bad you were not that concerned about taking care to keep him alive in the first place.

I only want my son to have a Christian burial and for his soul to be at peace.

My comment:

Well, Tim, I think if Ricky had a say in all of this he would want to be ALIVE. He would have wanted his DAD to protect him. He would have wanted his DAD to take him to the hospital instead of watching him DIE for a week. NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU F***ING WANT TIM.

I know that sounds hypocritial of me to say, but his soul needs peace.

My comment:

It not only sounds hypocritical; it is hypocritical. You are a not only a hypocrite but you are also a psychopath because only a psychopath would have responded in the fashion you have done to the petition. Anyone else with even a small amount of remorse for their participation in Ricky’s abuse and murder would just hide away somewhere and live forever with the shame and guilt. Nope. You are not remorseful.

And now you presume to know what is best for Ricky’s soul. Ricky’s inner soul needed peace while he was alive but you could not see fit to make that happen.

I wish you would have contacted me first, before you filed this Petition.

My comment:

Many people wish you would have taken Ricky to the nearest emergency room when you saw that he was dying. Many people wish that you would have contacted CPS to let them know your wife was losing it and abusing your adopted son. Ricky wishes he was alive and loved and fed. Ricky’s brothers and sisters wish he was still alive and did not one day just disappear from their lives.

Besides all of the wishes that everyone else has regarding what should have taken place inside of your home, WHO IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? YOU ARE NOBODY! YOU ARE A CONVICTED CHILD MURDERER. YOU ARE A NUMBER IN THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DATABASE. YOU ARE A PRISONER, A CONVICTED FELON WITH GUESS WHAT? NO RIGHTS.

I would have worked out an agreement with you and avoided this expense on the citizens of Ingham County.

My comment:

Tim, you are unbelievable. Only a psychopath would make such a gratuitous statement. You don’t know it Tim, but people from all over the country have cared enough about Ricky to collect money to make sure he gets a better burial than what you gave him. Strangers care more for your son than you do. All you care about is your rotten soul. Tim, the citizens of Ingham County will consider the expense of burying Ricky money well spent. In direct opposition to how the citizens of Ingham County feel about housing and feeding your sorry a** for the next 30-60 years as well as your sorry wife’s a** for the rest of her sorry life. Many citizens in Michigan believe that you and Lisa are the poster children for bringing the death penalty back to Michigan.

I propose the following:

a. I will release my rights as a father and any right in my deceased son’s estate.

My comment:

Your rights were revoked without needing your approval. You pretty much lost your rights as a father the day you let your son die and dumped him in the marsh leaving him to rot.

b. I want to be excluded from the April 13, 2007, hearing before Judge Economy.

My comment:

Not a problem, Tim. Happy to exclude you from everything. Just stay in your cell and rot.

c. That my son’s body will be turned over to my mother, Arcie M. Holland, at some point. I would like my sone to be laid to rest among family.

My comment:

Why should Ricky be buried among people who never cared about him? Why should anyone pay attention to what you would like done with Ricky’s body? See section ‘A’ Tim where you release your rights as a father. By following your directions in Section ‘A’ you cannot really mention Ricky as ‘my son’ in this section.

d. The Petition reflect the Plea Agreement, I signed with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office.

My comment:

Probably the plea agreement and this petition have nothing to do with each other. You are cooling your jets in prison Tim. The state has you exactly where they wanted to put you. Their contract with you is completed.

e. To resolve this issue, prior to the hearing on April 13, 2007.

My comment:

Whatever. People in hell want ice water Tim. They never get what they want either. Have a nice time in Hell.

f. That no member of the Taylor family, be allowed to have custody of my son’s body.

My comment:

Oh, I see. Only Lisa and her family are guilty of harming Ricky. You are still playing the victim.

g. That no party to this Petition be allowed to profit from my son’s death.

My comment:

Amazing how you try to call the shots outside of your little cell.

Once again, I know I must sound hypocritical; but I must do right by my son. I will more than likely die in prison and I want to meet my Lord and Saviour with a clear conscience, knowing that I have finally done what is right from my son. I would like to resolve this prior to April 13, 2007. Please send me whatever forms I need to sign or bring them to me and I will sign them.

My comment:

Again, this is all about you and your welfare in the end and nothing about Ricky’s welfare in the afterlife or his soul. You are worried about your own eternal life and eternal damnation. There are plenty of people who have sent wishes for you to burn and rot in hell Tim. Your insignificant attempt to make things right with your Lord and Saviour at this late stage of the game is truly pitiful and pales in comparison to the pleas made to God in Ricky’s name.

Just like many cons who hit prison you have now found jail-house religion to try and salve your conscience.

Save your crap for people who care.

You are a convict, you are not a fellow attorney who can just suggest to the court that they either send you forms to sign or hand deliver them to you.

You are a murderer, a child murderer with no rights whatsoever. The court agreed with one point in your answer to the petition. Judge Economy ruled on your involvement in this decision prior to April 13, 2007. He decided that you have no rights. Enough said.

Repectfully Submitted,

Sources:

Lansing State Journal - Petition from medical examiner to take custody of Ricky Holland’s remains

Lansing State Journal – Tim Holland letter to prosecutor’s office concerning Ricky Holland’s remains

Lansing State Journal – Who will bury Ricky?
March 29, 2007