Multi-million dollar bond for Ohio man charged in lethal Benadryl murder of 3-year-old
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A man who served eight years in prison for child endangerment was given a $2 million bond on Friday for his alleged role in the death of a three-year-old child.
Randy Mollett, 35, was issued the bond while arraigned in Franklin County Municipal Court on Friday on a murder charge after a child in his care reportedly suffered a seizure and died. Friday’s arraignment brings Mollett’s bond total to $4 million, after he was also arraigned on Thursday on reckless homicide and child endangerment charges.
A criminal complaint report stated that Mollett called 911 at 6:18 p.m. on April 13 to report a juvenile had stopped breathing at his home on London-Groveport Road, near Grove City. Medics took the three-year-old child to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The toxicology report revealed that the child had ingested a lethal dosage of Diphenhydramine, which is commonly referred to as Benadryl. Parents told police that their child was in Mollett’s custody for a period of three days, but that they did not authorize the use of Benadryl.
“I don’t understand, I don’t and I want to know why because he was such a wonderful boy,” a woman who claimed she was the child’s grandmother said in court. “He was great and he loved this man. I don’t understand why this could happen to such a sweet baby. He didn’t deserve it.”
Two bottles of Benadryl were found in Mollett’s home. During an interview, police said Mollett admitted to giving the medicine to the child.
It is the second time Mollett has been arrested on similar charges. In 2008 he received three counts each of felonious assault and endangering children from an incident in which a 23-month-old suffered broken bones in both hands. He later pleaded guilty to one count of endangering children and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
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