Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Statements from the Dollar case

By Times Staff
Published September 15, 2005

EDITOR'S NOTE: Citrus County sheriff's Detective Lisa Wall read this statement aloud in court Wednesday during a hearing for John and Linda Dollar:

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak. As you all know in the courtroom today, my name is Lisa Wall and I am the detective that was assigned to investigate this case. I am also the detective whose life has been forever changed as a result of this. Understand that I'm reading my statement from paper because I know that when I stand before you today, John and Linda Dollar, I will not remember all that needs to be said.

First I would like to thank all the attorneys that have spent many countless hours on the details of this case. This is what makes our judicial system as effective and solid as it is. I was very fortunate to have fine attorneys that pored through pages and pages of paperwork submitted and not once complained of the enormous volume presented to them. As to the defendants' attorneys, I may not agree with some of the things that I have heard said by you, but I accept that you have a job to do, as I have.

Before I thank John and Linda Dollar, I need to thank all the agencies that have been involved in this case and in the lives of these children. Given the cards they have been dealt, they continue to do a tremendous job and my hope is that one day these children will be able to live happy, healthy lives even with the setbacks they may encounter along the way. As to Shanda Shelton, I personally would like to thank you for stepping up and coming forward to stand behind your brothers and sisters when no other family members would. I appreciate the fact that even though there has been a fear with you, you put that aside and did the right thing and did not give up even when faced with the unknown.

John and Linda Dollar, I have not forgotten you. I stand before you today to thank you for having the compassion to not put your children through any more heartache or sorrow. I only hope that you admit that what your children said was true for whatever your reasons were. I thank you for teaching something of God to your children because as a result, this is what ultimately stopped the cycle that had become a part of you and your children's lives.

Had your children not been taught some of the love of God or what it means to be true to him, we would not be here today. Had I not reminded your children that they had sworn not only to me but to God to tell the truth, they would have kept that secret that had bonded you all together. You would have been able to carry on your destructive path, which surely would have been a death sentence to one if not more of your children. You were out of control, and it became a war between you and the children to see who would win.

I hope that you are not bitter for them telling the truth as they did it because of their love for God, which was from your teachings. Understand that they did not tell your secrets to hurt you but did it because they loved you and had hoped that you would understand that your actions were wrong and would stop. They wanted to repair the damaged relationship, and their little hearts broke when they had to tell the truth because they swore to God they would.

John and Linda Dollar, I feel that when you initially got these children you did it with a good heart, but something went wrong along the way. I hope that now that you have done the right thing, you can overcome your demons, as the children will have to overcome theirs. I have had to put my personal feelings aside on the issue of what I believe is a fair sentence for the both of you. Regardless of what your sentence is, you will be accountable for your actions to a higher power than me or this court. I can only say that it is very clear to me that you must now know how your children suffered living in a small closet for the last five years of their lives. How they suffered with limited access to food and love. The only difference now between them and you is that they are finally free.

[Last modified September 15, 2005, 01:05:21]