'Family friend' accused of killing 3-year-old boy y overdose charged with murder

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A Grove City man accused in the death of a 3-year-old boy made his first court appearance on Thursday, and was officially charged with murder on Friday.

Randy Mollett was arraigned on charges of reckless homicide and child endangerment on Thursday.

According to court documents, Mollett called 911 on April 13 to report a 3-year-old in his care had a seizure. The child was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he died later.

The toxicology report found a lethal dosage of Benadryl in the child’s system. The child’s parents told police that they had not authorized Mollett to give the child Benadryl, according to the court documents.

His bond was set at $2 million, and Mollett, 35, was ordered to stay away from minors. Shortly after his arraignment, a murder charge was filed against him.

Prosecutors said Mollett had two prior felony convictions. This is also not the first time that Mollett has been in court regarding cases involving children.

ABC 6 News covered a case in 2008 when he was accused of abusing his ex-girlfriend’s 2-year-old son. At the time, detectives said he was upset at the mother for breaking up with him, so he purposely hurt her son. Common Pleas court records indicate that Mollett was sentenced to eight years in prison, indicating that he would have been released sometime in 2017.

The grandmother of the deceased child says Mollett was a close "family friend" whom her young grandson trusted and loved. She wants answers to why Mollett did this.

I just want to know why, why? All I have left is this to hold on to. This is my baby's ashes. This is all I have left of him, and its not fair. And I just want answers," the grandmother shared with ABC 6.

The family also says they were unaware of Mollett's prior felony convictions, including the child abuse charges.

Anyone with information about the incident or information regarding Randy Mollett can call the Franklin County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau at (614)525-3351.

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