Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

Ricky Holland

Content note: Case narratives include descriptions of severe violence inflicted on children, including abuse and neglect, sexual violence, torture, and murder, as well as mentions of suicide and domestic violence. They also include photos of victims and perpetrators of violence.

Lisa Holland struck her 7 year old adopted son Ricky in the head with a hammer and didn’t seek medical help while he slowly died. Lisa and her husband Tim dumped Ricky’s body in a swamp and said he had disappeared. Police found the body six months later, and Lisa and Tim were charged in his death and given long prison terms. Lisa had withdrawn him from school to be homeschooled over a year before his death in a dispute over whether he needed special-education services. The child endured a variety of abuse before his death, including food deprivation and being tied up in the family’s basement.

Date: July 1, 2005
Location: Summit Township, Michigan

Documents: Date:
Mother Gets Life for Adopted Son’s Death 2006-11-28
3 violent deaths in 18 months under state’s watch 2007-01-30
Introduction: Ricky Holland’s story 2007-12-02
Chapter 1: Ricky enters foster care 2007-12-02
Chapter 2: Hints of trouble 2007-12-03
Chapter 3: Games or abuse? 2007-12-04
Chapter 4: Two secrets 2007-12-05
Chapter 5: A boy on a leash 2007-12-06
Chapter 6: Ricky’s gone! 2007-12-07
Chapter 7: Suspects and lies 2007-12-08
Chapter 8: A sticking window 2007-12-09
Chapter 9: Blood on a shirt 2007-12-10
Chapter 10: The office search 2007-12-11
Chapter 11: Bad news for Tim 2007-12-12
Chapter 12: She said … he said 2007-12-14
Chapter 13: The star witness 2007-12-15
Chapter 14: Two funerals 2007-12-16
Williamston woman who killed son, 7, loses appeal 2008-06-25