Teen Killers: A Second Chance?; Footage of interviews with the family of Jonathan "Dominic" Holmes

Family. Just. So. It's affected the family a lot. I think a lot of us expected some of the family to change. And. React towards little differently. And a lot of them I just a few of them and show as much reaction as we thought or. Learn from it and. It's just interesting to see all the different reactions because all of us deal with it in such different ways and you look at them and think you know how can you just leave and you know you. Look at it and you think you know how can you think that way you know or some people are just angry about it and sometimes you just think you know you need to stop being so angry or some people. Think that some of us are just kind of like like. So much more of this loose and just kind of. It looks. I know people think sometimes you just kind of forget about it how can you come see him after what he's done and all this and it just I think it affects some people will think you know differently and how each other are. Reacting to this. And it's amazing how much difference

it is and it makes it I think it affects it by a lot of us. It's. It doesn't it hasn't really made it effects like we've gotten closer or gotten further in some ways it makes us closer. It's a very big topic but it doesn't seem like it's been a huge effect but it's just it's really amazing to see different reactions and how we can talk about it. And till we have different opinions. That. Show. Some of the cousins. I mean are you allowed to come here. Some of the cousins don't even know about it and. That's really interesting how they choose to. Say it or explain it or just not let a lot of it. We have a lot of younger cousins and a lot of them I think a couple of them I mean they don't. Even have a clue what's really. Going on with whole situation. And. So. They're all handling it kind of different and some people let them know and with my mom I was just totally let us know what was going on which I

prefer because. You know. I think. We can handle it. But it's a lot to handle but I like to be able to know what's going on and not just hear half the story her. Stuff. But. Tippins. I wonder if you could. OK. Stower. OK. One final question. OK. I'd like you to tell us. What you hope for what comes out of this. For him. For the. For his future. What would be the best of all possible things for him. And for the family too I guess for that. Well. Dominick learns more how to express his anger and to know that he knows now that he can. He has people he can go up and talk to and talking about it instead of holding it all and works a lot better. And I think

I. Think Dominics a pretty talented and. Great guy. I mean he has a really good qualities and I think once again gets out of here. I hope that this thing doesn't. Affect. Me. I hope that he can go and do things that he wants to do and. That kind of stuff. I mean you know this will always be kind of in the way but. I think. He should. I think he'll be all right when he gets out there he seems like a pretty strong guy come we things pretty. Good. So he knows what he's doing. I mean you can tell he hasn't a clue. I mean he knows what's going on here. He knows that it's going to be tough when he gets out and that kind of stuff. And he's he knows that he's lucky to have the second chance to go out and live what he wants to do. And not. Get locked away for the rest of his life. What he's done. You had you had no idea that this kid. That there was trouble that could cause something like

this to be done. My goodness. I mean I know they two they both had trouble and I knew that Mary Jane was could be controlling and I mean I know what it's like to be a teenager and the mom and the frustration between it and not know understanding one person think this way and one other person being that way and not being able to change their mind about it. And I know that but I never figured that. I mean this is my cousin Dominick and this is my playmate. Go out and have fun you know adventure guy. We never figured. Let's go. You know I never figured he'd. Ever do anything like this or Again ever would get that bad. But there was some bad situations but I don't think I ever thought. See I wasn't around much so I never really I wasn't down here I just come for the Simers every once in a while so I never really got to see what was really going on or. Anything like that even though it didn't seem like much of the family did even though I lived down here. But. I never I would never I don't think anyone can really figure this would happen if they did and hopefully they would have tried to help. So it wouldn't happen.

We're. Done. All right. Are you ready. OK. Let's start by you know go back three years in time like September. Three years in September. And think about the time when you first began to suspect that maybe maybe Dominic was telling the truth. Maybe he did kill your sister. You talk about him. When I heard that Regina died and some of

Dominic's responses the day they found her to they they found her. And I heard about you had some of his responses and how he behaved that day. I started to wonder. Because I knew that there was a lot of issues. In that relationship and Dominic's relationship with his mother Mary Jane. And. Then in talking to Dominic. On the phone. When we were in prayer you know we really threw ourselves into prayer. And time and talking in prayer. He was really passionate. And his. Prayer. With the Lord and it made me wonder. There was a real desperation there. That made me. Begin to think that. And. He played a part in this. You know it was hard to think that way though because. The murder was so brutal. It was really ravaging you know.

It was really it was just beyond horror. And some of. It was hard to think that that that could happen. And Dominique was never the type to really express his anger. He was a very. He's always been a very. Pleasing person and it's very unusual for him to say this annoys me. I don't agree with you. You know you could kind of tell by his eyes and his behavior but it was really hard. It was really unusual for him to. Be passionate. In his anger. So it was hard to think that he could do something like that. And. Describe his actions if you will at the time of the funeral. I know that he did and showed a few things. I think again may have. Shut off alarm bells. Well.

I'm godmother and I was there for delivery and there for like the first six weeks and I just have a real connection with Dominick. And when I arrived I got out of the car and Tomtit came up to me and he said the jury can be a family now. And I thought that was a really unusual response. There was a sense of. You know I don't know how. I should open I should be. But there was a sense of freedom there. And his response. But there was a sense of disconnection too. And then when we went inside he just seemed very troubled. He just seemed very very troubled. And you know I just felt like he needed to. Release to somebody. But there was just so much happening. And then later I was in the kitchen and I was chopping up some carrots. And he looked at the knife and he just kind of looked at the knife and kind of packed into the refrigerator. And it made me wonder. You know what was. What was. What was that all about. But

I didn't ask him. And I don't know if it's because I didn't feel. At that time that I was strong enough to go into it because I was just trying to. Keep myself situated because it was so shocking. You know it's just very James with these people that was extremely creative. And she just had a lot to offer the world. You know she was just a very very. Just a very creative person you know. And to think of her not being around was it was really unbelievable. And when the funeral came. And. They lowered the casket into the ground. I mean Dominic got very emotional. I understand. And even later he was talking about things as I recall you mentioning about the money he was owed some money because we know he was on a strict County

can you get can you remember back talk about that. I remember we were upstairs talking for bed and Dominic said to me show me six hundred hawks and I'm never going to get that $600. How am I ever going to get it. And again I thought you know what an off the wall thing to say. I just felt a lot of anger in him. And I just really sensed that it's more than MORNING. And the day of the funeral. He that's when the morning began. To me that's when the realization in my opinion came forward of what he had done. And. You know he was very quiet and subdued and we sat with him in that pew. And I'm Veronica my 10 year old was holding his hand except then she was what 7:00 a.m. you know he kind of hung his head and you can see him start to cry and Reggie's casket was there and he was just very quiet and then at the funeral. I mean he just.

Broke down and there wasn't anything funny about it. I mean he just completely in my opinion surrendered his heart for the realization of what he'd done. I think see maybe seen her. Above the ground you know prepared to go down and afterwards you know it's really hard. I think it's important in my opinion not to worry about it I think. But he was sitting there sobbing and everyone just kind of left him alone and my heart was really to go and hope that as he cried. And. Told him to know that he's loved and whatever's come of this. He is loved you know through all this. And. So I did. And Dominics not real is very active. So he's not the kind to kind of hug. And tell him but he was breathing and sobbing and after he had cried over the cough and you know he sat down and he was buried in his hands and he was breathing. It was just it was just a real deep gut wrenching.

Sorrow. I guess I like to know. The whole family was behind Dominique supported him. Oh when when he was telling the story that you know he had nothing to do with this. And then of course. He admitted to killing his mother. And I just wondered if there was any sense of betrayal there on the people who had supported him so strongly took his words so w. There there's tremendous betrayal I mean people had given up their their time their money their careers everything. They had literally surrounded their self themselves to support him. And then when he confessed. It was. Such a tremendous betrayal. I mean it's like were you to. Put us through this and you know why didn't you confess at the

beginning. And I think that that's a good question but you know Dominic. Had made a bargain with the Lord. With when the judge had made the decision and he said if I am going to be remanded. I will confess. I mean he said to the Lord you know. I will confess if you really meant it. So as soon as he was remanded you know within the hour he confessed. And said. And that was it my mother and I were waiting outside. It was a time when I felt a real urgency to see him and his pastor Pastor Luko. And the youth pastor I. Just felt a real urgency to see him. And so immediately after the remains the decision they went back to his cell. And he asked. What was going on between down we can Mary Jane.

Do. You have any idea. What. Led up to this. I think I think that Mary Jane adored Dominic and she never ever wanted to hurt him. But there was a lot of. Mary Jane was a very intense person. And. There was a lot going on in her life. There was a lot going on with Mary Jane. And I think when you when a person is maybe feeling that. There's a sense to control. As as there was a lot of I don't know with word and trying to use but. Everything was always so. I want to say hectic. It wasn't hectic it was very. Intense and. She had a real need for Dominick to be someone. In her life that. Went well everything went well. And. It was just a real need for

her to. Have him do as she wanted him to do. I think she did it you know because she loved him very much. There was never ever thought to hurt him. Just after perfection. Oh. Yeah. Very much after perfection. And I think that perfection. I don't know if it was so that he was this perfect trophy. It was she wanted the best for him. I mean she just wanted everything to work for him. And I think as mothers. We and especially you know being older as mothers especially as single mothers we and I can say that we very much. Don't want our kids to go through a lot of heartache. And we know that if they follow certain. Rules and regulations which are really. You know the Lord's rules and regulations that life's going to come together for them it's going to be hard it's going to come together. And I think that was her hope

for Dominic. I think as things start to fall apart around us. We have a need to really control. We think we can. I guess I'd like some sense from you. Why. People in the family didn't see this. See the the red flags. I mean your own son came home. So I think. Things are pretty rough there. Why didn't the family show you something. Well I think that Mary Jane. Was a neat person. And. When you see something going on. It's easier to just not deal with it. Especially when you're not around it a lot. And Mary Jane kept Dominick very much away from the family. She really kind of wanted her life.

Away from the family. She wanted to with the family really. And she made a point of keeping him away from the family. So for those that were around them. More intimately it was easier to see. But for those that weren't it was easy not to see it. And Mary Jane was one of these people that you know you didn't really. She wasn't really open to what you thought in your opinion. You know she was very much. She. Knew what she wanted. And here she is just very very direct and. It was like. You know with where it is. Just kind of always seem to be around her seem to be how she functioned. She seemed to function with one. Or. Two that were

turmoil. You. Ready. OK. I'd like you to talk a little bit about what the what this has done to the whole family. What effect. Does this have on the. Family. The Good The Bad The Ugly the happy and sad everything. Well we're not so into denial anymore. It's in my opinion safer. For all of us to have our opinions and be different those opinions. We are all. Truly. I want to say devastated. I mean it's just like it's like there's a certain depth now that we've all experienced that is just beyond what pain can imagine. Here's Mary Jane who was so tremendously talented and creative and. Just a really. Great gift.

And he was Dominic who was just so loved and everyone expected Dominick to always be taught. And to lead the way. I mean everyone everything was the best. Dominick was to be the best he was to have. And. To see all of that just. You know ripped away. Is just I there's no denial there that means you can deny. Anything that was going on. And I feel that the family now is much closer and that. We can all kind of. Have a difference of opinion. But we all know now that. You know we're important to each other. And Mary Jane and me we still. All of us you know every day. I mean I still forget she's gone. And I think she was really into flamingos and you know I should tell her about this or she'd really like that and

then I have to remember all the time that she's gone and in feeling that way I just feel really angry. I mean I just feel like you know what right you have. A right to ask Dominic have to remove her from her life. And I just feel really angry about it. But on the other hand I you know I very much. Love Dominic and I know the love Mary Jane had for him and I know his potential. So I think in my opinion what many of us are doing is and I could be wrong. Maybe I'll just say for myself. We're feeling like. You know everything from Mary Jane. We're just now putting into Dominic and God's got plans for him. And he needs to focus on the plans that the Lord has for him. And move forward. And I can say that's because he is sorry. He is deeply deeply sad. And I don't think he ever thought that it was a way to think it was permanent. That this was going to be a permanent thing. It

was just all. So demented. And yet you have you have. Family members who don't want their children to see Dominic just sort of close the book. How does that happen. How does that affect the rest of the family how do you think Dominick deals I think for the family not to want for some of the family not to time like to ever be a part of their life or children's life is OK. I think they have that right. After what he has done to feel that way. And if they ever change their mind that's OK too. But I know for myself and for some of us God's really. Filter filled us with a grace. You know for forgiving grace not forgetting grace or forgiving grace and just to have an abundant love for Tamanac. And to make sure that he makes it. And I don't care if he doesn't get good grades or doesn't get a high paying job. But did he get out and focus on you know what God has planned for him.

And to work on. And to you know give us give his life to what the Lord wants for him. Because otherwise. His life's going to be very painful. And that this is always I mean this was this other. Guy this is always going to be. A. Part of him. And again. For John this is always going to be a part of his life. Yours too. Yes it will be I mean will always be a part of my life. And there are times when you know I just feel really angry. But I can say that to him. And I feel like I have the right. Any of us have the right to say to Dominic any time. I really hurt. I was really angry and not worry about where he's at. And that's not to say I don't want him to. I mean I don't want him to. Ever be suicidal or to go down under. But at the same time I have the right to say to him. I am

deeply deeply affected our lives. And to really focus. On the fact that there was hope for Mary Jane. I mean there is hope for the relationship. And I guess my concern is that Dominic. Be safe. Be safe and his behavior be safe and in sharing how he feels you know be safe in his anger. And I find now that just a while ago he told me something that I did that really irritated him. And he said you know my mother used to do that it just irritates me. And. He said when you do that it really really annoys me and makes me mad. And I was quiet and I said Taanach I'm so glad that you share that you know that I know that you were that you said to me you don't like this because I can't change. And improve

myself. Unless those I love share with me something that I do that's annoying. Stay there for a moment. Because I think you expressed a concern. As other women. About our relationship. For Dominique. With the woman. Ultimately won't be a test when he gets out of here starts to grow and make a life for his own. I mean I guess I want you to talk a little bit about. That. If you have a concern if you do what the concerns are. That's of thing. Well you know my son just asked him. What's he going to do any good thing now. How is he going to express that anger. And Tom said well I'm going to deal with it. NATHAN So what. How are you going to deal with. And. He won't have to deal with it as it comes. But it's very important to me that Dominick. I don't know that he's ever going to kill again. I don't worry about. I mean I would allow Dominick

in my home I don't worry that that's going to happen. And one of the reasons I don't worry about that is that as I communicate with him. He very normally shares with me. What makes him angry. And I think as long as I hear that for him or if he does increase now I can say it's a beautiful day you can say I don't like the weather. That's OK as long as he's doing that. I feel sick. I just. Want Dominick though to have a sense of what is normal. What is normal in a relationship with a woman. What is normal in a sexual relationship with a woman. What is acceptable what isn't acceptable. And that the secrets have to stop. I guess to me it's really important that the secrets. Not. Continue. And if he you know he's found his place in his mind. That's really

cemented. Where he processes. And he has to recognize if that's really demented thinking. And as long as I feel like he's working on that place in his mind. Then. You know people are going to be saying. Don't go there. Don't go to that spot. Well and if you go to that spot you know ask for a healing there that has Jesus for a healing in that spot. And know that that's wrong. I mean first of all we got to he's got to know that that thinking is wrong. That place is wrong. And it's OK. That he is locked. You know. I mean he's loved by the Lord Jesus. He is loved and hopefully he is loved by other people and that's why I wanted to know that he is loved. But at the same time there is an evil part of all of us and there's a good part of all of us and it's OK for that good part to come out. And it's OK to recognize the evil part and

say no to that evil. I think that's really important to me that Dominic know what's right and wrong thing. I want to read you if you could share with us would you think that many women would find this a relationship they wouldn't even want to enter into. I mean is she going to have a problem here. Well I would think so. Could you. I would think that a woman would really wonder. If they want to deal with all of this in a relationship. I think a normal healthy relationship is hard enough. And when you deal with this very insane side it's someone who's released you know it's certainly something to worry about. And that's why I think it's important that Dominic. Realize that he has and knows that some. That he needs to focus on the good side and it's OK to

be good. I think as long as he's open and honest and he keeps his secrets I mean as long as he's open and honest and no longer has these thoughts of. That he's going to be OK. What I want my daughter to date him. I. Don't know. I mean Dominic's got incredible potential and he's truly sorry. And I'm very very grateful that he has a second chance. And I think that he can take this. Experience this war and turn it into something miraculous. You know through the grace of God. And I think for the woman to. Have that with him it's going to be wonderful. But. I think to get to that point I would think she'd want to date him for quite a while. To really be in touch with herself. You know as to where he's at. And I hope to always be in contact with Dominick and I will from here on

out. Speak my mind and my thoughts and hopefully he'll tell me I don't like this you're wrong or whatever and that's ok. You