Randy Mollett, inset, allegedly gave a 3-year-old boy a fatal dose of Benadryl while he was caring for him at his house near Columbus, Ohio. (Mollett: Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; Screenshot: WBNS/YouTube)
A 35-year-old man in Ohio allegedly gave a fatal overdose of Benadryl to a 3-year-old boy, according to authorities.
Randy Mollett is facing charges of murder, reckless homicide and endangering children, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded around 6:18 p.m. April 13 to a report of an unresponsive child in the 6200 block of London Groveport Road in Darbydale, which is just outside Columbus.
Local CBS affiliate WBNS obtained a recording of Mollett’s 911 call after he found him unresponsive.
“I need all here fast,” he said. “My nephew just had a seizure and he’s not coming out. He’s not breathing.”
Mollett told detectives he was babysitting the boy at his home when the boy had the seizure. Medics rushed the boy to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus in serious condition. Doctors later pronounced the boy dead.
On May 1, investigators arrested Mollett. They said they determined Mollett gave the boy a fatal overdose of diphenhydramine, an active ingredient of the medication Benadryl. Local NBC affiliate WCMH obtained a criminal complaint that said Mollett had been caring for the boy for three days. Police recovered two bottles of Benadryl at the home. Mollett allegedly admitted to giving the boy Benadryl.
An investigator told WBNS that the overdose was no accident.
“It is intentional,” the investigator told the TV station. “What happened was definitely intentional.”
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A woman who identified herself as the boy’s grandmother at Mollett’s bond hearing last week said Mollett and the boy had a close relationship.
“I don’t understand, I don’t and I want to know why because he was such a wonderful boy,” she said, according to WCMH. “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.”
Records show Mollett previously pleaded guilty to child endangerment back in 2009. According to WCMH, Mollett admitted to breaking the hands of a 23-month-old child. A judge sentenced him to eight years in prison, records say.
Mollett is currently in the Franklin County Jail on a $4 million bond.
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