Friday, Apr. 15, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Mother says not responsible for daughters actions By LEE WILLIAMS Dressed in a two-piece suit Thursday, Carla Harvey told a small band of reporters that she did not feel she was responsible for the murderous actions of her now 16-year-old daughter, Holly. Holly Harvey pleaded guilty after learning that her co-defendant, Sandy Ketchum, 16, planned to testify against her at her trial, which was scheduled for May 16 in Thomasville. Ketchums trial was scheduled for May. 23. In exchange for her plea, Harvey received two consecutive life sentences. Harvey will likely be eligible for parole in 20 years, Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard said. Harveys lover and co-conspirator, Ketchum, received a lighter sentence in exchange for her cooperation with authorities. Ketchum will receive one life sentence in exchange for her plea. She likely will be eligible for parole in 10 years, Ballard said. Immediately following their courtroom appearances, members of the Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Fayette County office and Fayette County Sheriff Randall Johnsons office held a press conference to answer additional questions about the case. One reporter asked Carla Harvey who was incarcerated for drugs when Holly Harvey murdered Carl and Sarah Collier in their north Fayette County home Aug. 2, 2004 how much did she hold herself responsible for what Holly did. Harvey countered: Absolutely, not at all. Harvey indicated she did her best to raise her child as a single parent, but admitted it was hard. The Colliers often pitched in to help, but she said Holly had been raised without a father since she was 18 months old. Harvey indicated that being a parent was the hardest job a person will ever have and she gave it her all. Her actions were her doing and I cant hold myself responsible for that, Harvey said. You raise your children up, but they get to a point where they make their own decisions. She added people should be held accountable for their actions. Nevertheless, she would continue to give Holly the love and emotional support she needed during her incarceration. Kevin Collier, the late Colliers son, stated during the press conference that his adoptive parents loved Holly unconditionally. They loved her to death, Collier said. They would do anything for her. They would watch her whenever she needed to be watched. They would take her anywhere she needed to go. Collier said he, too, loved Holly unconditionally. Although he still grieves for his parents, the conclusion of the cases have brought him closer to finding closure. This is one part of the closure that I need and the family needs, he said. Time will heal certain things. Theres nothing we can do to bring my parents back, but time will heal the tensions and the feelings that I have for Holly.
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