Garlin case

The Garlin case refers to the murder of Tammie Garlin and the earlier physical abuse of Garlin's 11-year-old son on June 4, 2007, by their roommate Candace Clark, Clark's boyfriend Michael Sisk, and Garlin's girlfriend Michaela Clerc.

Garlin's 15-year-old daughter, Felicia Mae, was tried as a juvenile for being a willing participant in her mother's murder and the abuse of her brother.

The case drew attention to blind spots in the U.S. state of Florida's child-protection system.

Law-enforcement officers in Portage, Wisconsin, became aware of the situation on June 15, 2007, when following up on a Lake County, Florida, warrant for Candace Clark, who was charged with unlawfully removing her 2-year-old daughter, Courtney Clark, from the foster-care custody of Michaela Clerc's parents.

While local media routinely reported on the process, national media began coverage when four individuals were arraigned by video hookup in Columbia County (WI) Circuit Court on July 20.

By the next day, international news agencies had picked up the story.

When the police approached the house, the door was answered by Clark.

Allegedly providing an alias, she denied that Michael Sisk resided there.

The officers consulted photographs and, since the woman resembled Clark and a photograph resembled the 3-year-old in question, further inquiry was made of the household.

Clark eventually admitted that the child in question was known by two names.

Fifteen-year-old Felicia Garlin, who also provided an alias, was interviewed, and said her mother was unavailable.

Michaela Clerc was also questioned by the officers.

When it became clear that the women were lying about their identities and there was reasonable cause to suspect that the child in question was the one abducted from Florida, the four individuals were taken to the Portage police station.

Clark's two other young daughters, a 1-year-old and a 3-month-old, whom police placed in protective custody, were also residing at the house.

The Florida complaint indicated that Sisk was the father of the two younger girls.

A WTMJ-TV story suggested that the youngest child may have been Felicia Garlin's, and indicated that Felicia's brother and the three small children would remain in the custody of the Wisconsin child-protection system.

The head of the Florida child-protection system, Robert Butterworth, said "We are asking the Pinellas judge to relinquish jurisdiction in Florida and let them [i.e., the Wisconsin authorities] take care of the case."

At the police station, Clerc indicated that an 11-year-old boy who had been burned would be found at the house.

The boy, identified by the initials "ACG", was found in a closet.

Page 12 of the complaint states:

"Ms. Clark was also able to determine that Tammie Garlin died on June 4, 2007. She said this would have been early morning, shortly before daybreak. She said that earlier in the day Felicia had kicked Tammie. Tammie was not feeling well after that time. Michaela also kicked Tammie. Felicia and Michaela had to carry Tammie down to the bathroom. Michaela dropped Tammie's head when they got into the bathroom and Tammie's head hit the floor. Felicia also 'smacked' Tammie 'hard' while they were in the bathroom. Felicia and Michaela put Tammie in the bathtub fully clothed and washed her off because she had soiled herself. Tammie was then put on the floor of the bathroom, but she wasn't moving. Ms. Clerc kicked Tammie and told her to 'get off the damn floor.' Mr. Sisk went into the bathroom and shut the door. He came out a few minutes later and said something to the effect of 'She's dead.' Michaela laughed."

Fifteen-year-old Felicia Garlin admitted helping with the burial of her mother; preparations were made during the day for burial after dark in the backyard.

10 days later, a search warrant was obtained, and Tammie Garlin's remains were exhumed.

An autopsy was performed June 16, which "determined that the probable cause of Ms. Garlin's death was manual strangulation".

"ACG, DOB 10/13/1995. ACG was sitting on the floor of an upstairs bedroom closet with his knees pulled up to his chest. ACG had obvious wounds all over his body. ACG started crying when he saw the officers and said that he did not want to go to jail."

The Garlin boy was taken to Divine Savior Hospital and eventually transferred to the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.

At the UW hospital, he was diagnosed with extensive injuries.

Pages 12–13 of the complaint state:

Dr. Knox reports that ACG was admitted to the UW Emergency Department and then to Dr. Knox's care.

The physical examination of ACG showed the following: overall– grossly burned with significant new and old injuries from serial beatings and malnourishment.

Specifically, ACG had a large ulcerated area on the top of his scalp, multiple cutaneous injuries around the rest of his scalp, a front that upper tooth missing, several other burn marks on his face and scalp, multiple burn and loop marks (from reported extension cord beatings) throughout his torso, burns on both his hands which had caused mummification and significant contracture of some of the fingers, burnt and swollen arms, burn scars on his legs and knees, extensive burns on both feet.

Dr. Knox also reports that some parts of the physical exam could not be completed because ACG's injuries caused him too much discomfort for these portions of the exam.

Dr. Knox also reports that ACG showed absence of significant muscle mass.

ACG was unable to walk because of the extensive burns on his feet.

The radiology exam of ACG showed abnormalities, likely due to dehydration.

Dr. Knox diagnosed ACG as having the following: 1) definite physical abuse, 2) serial torture of a child, 3) profound malnutrition, 4) chronic medical neglect, 5) educational neglect and 6) great mental harm to a child.

The police questioned Clerc, who admitted that the:

"...young children were Candace's children. She also said that the abducted child from Florida was one of the children. Clerc admitted that she helped 'punish' ACG with the scalding water and held the bathroom door shut while others were scalding ACG because Ms. Clark and Mr. Sisk did not want the babies to be hurt by the hot water. Ms. Clark also admitted that she had hogtied ACG as punishment. (p.13)"

Authorities determined that Garlin's cause of death was murder.

According to page 14 of the complaint, the following statements detailed the murder of Tammie Garlin: