A half-million dollar bond was set this afternoon for a 15-year-old girl charged with murdering her mother, burying her body, and torturing her 11-year-old brother in Portage. Felicia Garlin was one of four people charged in Columbia County with a total of 43 counts.
A $350,000 bond was set for 20-year-old Michala Clerc. And bonds were denied for 23-year-old Candace Clark and her 25-year-old boyfriend Michael Sisk. They all lived in several southern states before moving to a house in Portage in February, apparently because they wanted to see snow. Once police were told that Clark illegally stole her daughter from a Florida foster home, the other grizzly crimes unraveled before investigators' eyes.
The worst crime was the slaying of 36-year-old Tammie Garlin, Felicia's mother who was said to have AIDS and other illnesses. According to the criminal complaint, the four repeatedly kicked her, and dropped her on her head when moving her to the bathroom. They then allegedly put her in a car trunk, and buried her in their back yard the next day. That happened around June fourth. The complaint also said Clerc and Tammie Garlin were lovers for five years — and Clerc was upset because she thought Tammie cheated on her.
They're also accused of tying up Tammie's 11-year-old son several times and putting him in a hot bathtub. He was also reportedly strangled, punched, and kicked numerous times, and was belted daily. The boy was found by authorities in a closet at the home. They said it was the worst case of child abuse they've ever seen.
AUDIO: Robin Colbert reports (MP3 :55)
