Ricky Holland: Mom's assault charges dropped, other news

This blog was born out of the outrage I felt after Ricky's adoptive father led police to his body--outrage that he got the national media coverage after his body was discovered which he should have gotten while he was still missing and there was at least the possibility of him being alive. In my opinion this happens too much with missing people.
Anyway, Ricky's adoptive parents, Tim and Lisa Holland, will be going to trial for his murder. Here are some updates on the case, and I will try to be more prompt about them in the future. To save space (the second one is quite lengthy), I am going to be summarizing instead of posting the full articles. You can click the links to read more.

- July 17: A misdemeanor domestic assault charge against Lisa Holland was dropped after her husband Tim (the person she assaulted) refused to testify by using the 5th Amendment. A felony domestic violence charge was previously dropped. [http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=57948]

- Jury selection will occur in September, and there are concerns about whether there can be a fair trial. Previous requests for a change of venue have been denied. The two defendants will be tried together but with separate juries. Because of this, a removeable box for the second jury will have to be built for the courtroom. The selection for Lisa Holland will begin that day and continue until the 15th unless more time is needed. Selection for Tim Holland will begin September 18. The trial will probably last at least six weeks. [http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/NEWS06/607170373]

- July 14: Because Ricky was being abused and Child Protective Services did not help him, a prosecutor and a familiy court judge told a legislative committee that the state of Michigan needs a new agency to protect children. The committee is investigating Ricky's death. [http://wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=28304&template=breakout_state.html]

- July 11: Crystal Mountain, a former county jail inmate who befriended Lisa Holland, failed to show up for a hearing after being called to court by Lisa's attorneys. She had previously testified that Lisa had told her she killed Ricky by hitting him on the head with a hammer. If Ms. Mountain does not show up on July 20, she will be arrested. [http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=57571]

- July 11: The judge surpressed the end of a video tape of statements by Lisa Holland because the questioning continued without her lawyer even though he had arrived. However, the judge also allowed Tim Holland's statement that Lisa killed Ricky to be used at the trial. That statement can be used against him because it was partially false, but not against Lisa. [http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060711/NEWS06/607110389]

- July 7: The judge ruled that Ricky's school and psychological records can be included in the trial. She also allowed testimony by a neighbor who said Ricky overheard his parents "saying they wished they didn't have him." [http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=57377]

- A vigil marked anniversary of Ricky's death. [http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/3267461.html]

- Michigan's report on child welfare workers will be released after trial ends. Since Tim and Lisa Holland were arrested, the Department of Human Services has increased background checks on foster families, and Child Protective Services has hired more caseworkers. [http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060703/NEWS06/607030380/1008] (Sadly, it takes a tragedy to bring these things to people's attention.)