State won't help bury homicide victim

Attorney General's Office says 71-year-old had criminal record

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Johnnie Holland was killed two weeks ago. Since then he still has not been buried.

In fact, his body is still at a downtown funeral home. His family says they turned to the state for help, but the state turned them down even though their 71-year-old father was a victim of a crime.

Two weeks ago, police were called to Holland's Northwest Jacksonville home on Acorn Street, when he was found dead inside. Holland is believed to be the victim of a home invasion.

His small amount of money is gone, but worse, his life was taken, something his son Johnnie Holland Jr. will never be able to shake.

Now he says he's just trying to bury his dad.

"He is a good guy, a totally different guy," Holland Jr. said. "I just want my father to be buried because he don't have insurance. We just need help. That's it."

Holland says the family is broke. He lives in Atlanta and works at a fast food restaurant and can't afford a funeral.

Holland said his family turned to the state for that help while his father was lying in the morgue, but he said he was told by the Attorney General's Office it can't help, even though it has a special program to help bury victims of crime.

Holland Sr. had a criminal record, a felony drug charge from years ago.

"People made mistakes in their life and nobody is perfect, but if somebody not been in trouble almost 20, 30 years, you all should try to help my family because my father was the victim," Holland Jr. said. "He was a good man and changed his life completely."

The Attorney General's Office said because of the conviction, nothing can be done.

Holland Sr.'s body was moved from the Medical Examiner's Office to a funeral home, and now the family is praying the state will change its policy.

"I'm out here as a son trying to bury my father," Holland Jr. said. "What he did 20, 30 years ago, it don't matter. He has totally changed his life. He is a totally different man. All I am asking for his help. That's it."


About the Author:

Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.