Child Protective services allowed the Holland children to remain in the home even after it was clear that they were the focus of the investigation into Ricky's disappearance. Tim had lied about several things to detectives and on September 6th 2005 they arrived at the Holland home with search warrants in tow.

If you have not read the beginning of this case please see Chapter 1 --HERE-- and Chapter 2 --HERE-- Chapter 3 --HERE-- Chapter 4 --HERE-- Chapter 5 --HERE-- Chapter 6 --HERE--

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Evidence

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As the detectives explained to the Hollands what they needed to happen, Lisa grabbed a backpack and said it was used as a diaper bag. Sgt. Roy Holliday said he needed to search it and Lisa very reluctantly agreed. Holliday found a orange shirt cut into pieces with what appeared to be blood in a zip lock bag int eh backpack. When asked, Lisa and Tim both denied knowing where it came from.

Detective Holliday was struck by how the home had little trace of Ricky's presence in it. There were no real pictures or toys of his. It was like the Hollands did not expect or hope for his return.

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Authorities put more children at risk!

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Even though you would think that with the Hollands being suspects in a missing child investigation it would be easy to remove the other children from the home for their safety, in fact it was not. Detective Holliday had actually spoke with CPS 2 weeks earlier about removing the children. As early as August 22 CPS caseworkers knew that police suspected Ricky was dead, and that the Hollands were in some way responsible.

Holliday had requested that CPS not contact the Hollands, even though it was technically a violation of procedure. The police and prosecutor were worried that a CPS case would give the Hollands, who had hired a lawyer, reason to subpoena evidence that would jeopardize the murder case against them. The only problem was that in order for CPS to complete the investigation, Kathleen Daugherty and Colin Parks, the investigators, would have to contact them.

When they knocked on the door, Lisa was not going to answer questions, but they had the right to examine the children for abuse, of which they found no evidence. Lisa said that attorney Neil Rockind advised her not to answer questions, and the day after they questioned her, he called the CPS office saying that they were harassing the Hollands. The caseworkers asked to question the Hollands but he said to put their questions in writing, then refused to return calls.

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Insane decisions

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Eventually, CPS decided after speaking with the prosecutors office, not to file a petition to remove the other children from the home. Prosecuting attorney Stuart Dunnings and Mike Ferency, the assistant prosecutor on the case, decided that they did not want the Attorney for the Hollands to get access to the investigation.

They kept the kids in the house knowing the Hollands probably killed Ricky and hid his body!

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More allegations of abuse

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State Police Sgt. Frank Mraz and Child Protective Services received three separate allegations of abuse against Ricky's brother Trevor from his school. Nancy Deal, Trevor's preschool teacher at Discovery Elementary School in Williamston, Michigan continued to be suspicious of cuts and bruises on him. Unfortunately, Trevor had communication problems and it was hard to understand him. He had told several people that his mother had caused his injuries, and had demonstrated on a doll at one point.

Prosecutors decided there was still just not enough evidence to file a petition to remove the children.

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Loss of employment and Domestic Abuse

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Detectives had worked with a Federal District Court Judge to get a warrant to search Tim's office. They had to go to a Federal Judge because of Tim's work with classified material. When they searched the office they were only able to take computers that had been cleared of classified material. One that Tim said had material on it was later reviewed and found to instead have thousands of pornographic pictures. As a result of this misuse of government property, Tim was dismissed from his job as a contractor for the Army intelligence service. Tim said in a letter to his boss that Lisa had in fact been the one looking at pornography.

When Lisa found the letter of termination and letter blaming her for the pornography, according to Tim, got violent and struck him, cutting his cheek with a ring.

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Finally a break

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Detective Mraz called Tim in one day to question him about the abuse allegations from the school. Tim asked right away if the interview was about the scratches. Lisa had already told him that the school was asking questions and she was not happy about it. Mraz advised Tim of his rights.

Tim denied abusing Trevor but admitted that Lisa had on previous occasions. He agreed to file domestic abuse charges against Lisa.

Lisa was jailed and it was not long before she wanted to talk to the detectives.

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Interrogation

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Unaware that she was being recorded on video, Lisa told a story about Tim being violent and always "Laying into" the kids. She then told the detectives that she thought that Tim had killed Ricky and disposed of his body. Right as Detective Holland was about to get more information from Lisa, her criminal lawyer showed up to stop the interview.

Lisa was arraigned on the domestic violence charge and released on a $5000 bond. She was kept under surveillance.

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Confession

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The next day at noon, Dennis Hurst walked his client, Tim Holland into the State Police post in Jackson to give his statement. The lawyer had reached an immunity agreement with Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Mike Ferency that his statements could not be used against him. He was going to tell a story about Lisa and her abuse of Ricky resulting in his death.

After giving his statement, Tim took a convoy of 4 cars to the Dansville game area and showed them where Ricky's body had been unceremoniously dumped in black trash bags in a swamp.

The detectives actually got on their knees and said a prayer that God would finally give Ricky the peace he did not have in life.

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Please read

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When I was writing my recent posts about my experience with CPS I remembered this case from my hometown area and how much it impacted me when it happened. I thought it would be a good idea to write a series of posts about this incident and outline the ways that CPS failed to protect this child and so many others like him. We have to reign in this beast that has been created called CPS. I know from personal experience that they take children from families based on money more than out of care for the child, and all too often let children like Ricky Holland, who need the help, slip through the cracks.

Please speak up and support efforts like these to change the system.

Being aware of the problem is the first step.

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