Divorcing Dad

The week's news at a glance.

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.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us