Divorcing Dad

last updated 8 January 2015

Quincy, Mass.

A Massachusetts judge last week granted a 14-year-old boy the chance to sever legal ties to his father, who is serving life in prison for killing the boy’s mother. “He’s not my father anymore,” said Patrick Holland, who at age 8 found his mother, Elizabeth, dead on her bedroom floor. Three years ago, his father, Daniel, requested copies of Patrick’s school and counseling records, and asked to know how he was doing in Little League. Patrick, now living with family friends in New Hampshire, was outraged, and petitioned the court to terminate Daniel Holland’s parental rights. The judge turned him down in February, but reversed the ruling at the urging of child-welfare officials. A trial on the boy’s petition is scheduled for July 26.