Garlin case

The Garlin case refers to the three adults and one juvenile charged in the June 4, 2007, murder of Tammie Garlin and the earlier physical abuse of Garlin's 11-year-old son. Garlin's 15-year-old daughter is alleged to have been a willing participant in her mother's murder and the abuse of her brother. The case drew attention to deficiencies in the Florida child-protection system.

Overview

The adults involved were Candace L. Clark (born February 20, 1984); Michael J. Sisk (born December 22, 1981), Clark's boyfriend; and Michaela Shawn Clerc (born July 13, 1986), reportedly the slain woman's lover. The juvenile was 15-year-old Felicia Mae Garlin (born August 28, 1991), daughter of the deceased and sister of the abused boy.^[1]

Abuse

Portage, Wisconsin, law-enforcement officers became aware of the situation on June 15, 2007, when following up on a Lake County, Florida, warrant for Clark, who was charged with unlawfully removing her 2-year-old daughter from the foster-care custody of 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.^[2]

Clark answered the door for the police. 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 2-year-old in question, further inquiry was made of the household. Clark eventually admitted that the child in question was known by two names.

15-year-old Felicia Garlin (who also provided an alias) was interviewed, and said her mother was unavailable. 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 household was taken to the Portage police station and the three youngest children placed in protective custody (see pp. 11–12 of complaint).^[2]

In addition to her 2-year-old, Clark had two other small daughters with her (a 1-year-old and a 3-month-old); both were subsequently placed in protective custody. The Florida complaint indicated that Sisk was the father of the two younger girls (including the child involved in the custody case). 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.^[3] 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."^[4]

At the police station, Clerc indicated that an 11-year-old boy who had been burned would be found at the house (p. 12 of complaint).^[2] The boy, identified by the initials "ACG", was found in a closet. Page 12 of the complaint states:

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.^[2]

The Garlin boy was taken to Divine Savior Hospital, and 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 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.^[2]

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.^[2](p.13)

Murder

Authorities determined that Garlin's death was murder. According to page 14 of the complaint, the following statements detailed the murder of Tammie Garlin:

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.^[2]

15-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. (p. 15) 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".^[2]

Sisk was not at the residence. A detective acquired a cell phone number and called him, telling him he was wanted for questioning. Sisk left town, and police issued a bulletin for his arrest.

At the time he was arrested in Milwaukee on June 15, 2007, Mr. Sisk was on a bus that was heading to Chicago, IL. Mr. Sisk also had in his possession a bus ticket that had been purchased on June 15, 2007 at 10:40 a.m. in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. This ticket had the ultimate destination of Madisonville, Kentucky.^[2]

Florida ripple effect

The unlawful removal of the 2-year-old from her foster home reflected poorly on the Florida child-protection system. Martin E. Comas said in the Orlando Sentinel that it took Florida child-custody authorities four months to inform law enforcement:

Lake County sheriff's officials also said they were baffled as to why a caseworker with the Safe Children Coalition in Pinellas County did not report Courtney missing until Jan. 25, more than four months after she was snatched from her Sorrento foster home by her mother, Candace L. Clark.^[5]

Carol Marbin Miller (in the June 22 Miami Herald) indicated that former Florida Attorney General Robert Butterworth, six months into a stint as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families, was mystified that such a thing could happen and declined to place blame until an investigation was completed.^[6] Butterworth held a news conference on June 26, where he announced changes in the system.^[7]

Another Herald article followed up with more details on June 23.^[8] The St. Petersburg Times published a longer analysis of the system's failure June 24.^[9] Stacye Scarborough, Clark's sister, was reported to have sought custody of her nieces a year before the events under discussion; authorities were non-communicative, and failed to report to her that the 2-year-old had been unlawfully removed from foster care.^[4] Scarborough would face "a myriad of legal hurdles if she hopes to get custody of her nieces";^[10] since the custody was now an interstate issue, it would take three to six months of legal effort.

The four suspects reportedly constituted an identity theft ring masterminded by Clark, who (with Sisk) had outstanding warrants in Colorado.^[11] Arguing that Clark (not Sisk) was the gang leader, the article quotes a former neighbor who characterized Sisk as a "pinhead" and "dumber than a sack of hammers", and Clark was the controlling figure in the household. In northwestern Kentucky WFIE-TV reported, "Clark is wanted on 23 outstanding warrants in Henderson where she's accused of stealing the identity of a local woman".^[12]

Clark was the only member of the group willing to grant interviews,^[13] speaking to Sarah Langbein of the Orlando, Florida Sentinel in her jail cell. Published June 22, 2007, Clark claimed that Sisk controlled the gang^[14] (although most news sources indicate that Clark was in charge).

She termed ACG "difficult" and requiring frequent discipline, unaware of the medical-examination findings. In a June 23 article by Portage Daily Register writer Matthew Call, she again denied any role in the murder. As for her relationship with Sisk, Call wrote:

Clark said she met Sisk at a high school in Hopkins County, Ky. They moved to Florida because "that was my dream place to always live," she said. Clark also said she met Clerc in a chat room and at one point considered buying a Sanford, Fla. house in which Clerc and Garlin lived.^[15]

Charges

The Wisconsin charges included first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and child abuse. The complaint, dated 20 June 2007, made no mention of identity theft. Since the alleged crimes involved an interstate component, Federal charges were possible. All accused faced life imprisonment plus 100 years on the Wisconsin charges alone (Wisconsin does not have the death penalty).^[16][17]

Jane E. Kohlwey, Columbia County district attorney, was in charge of the case. Colorado, Florida and Kentucky expressed an interest in trying the defendants. Since the combined cases were complex and involved multiple jurisdictions, Columbia County's small district attorney's office was under pressure. The Portage Daily Register voiced local concerns: "While a plea deal could be worked out that would reduce the expense to Columbia County taxpayers for four trials, a heavy workload still awaits police and prosecutors."^[18]

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for November 19–20, 2007 following an earlier hearing on November 6 concerning videotaped evidence. Felicia Garlin's attorneys sought to have Garlin wear street clothing at the hearing, but the request was denied by the judge.^[19]

Sentencing

Prosecutors discounted evidence and testimony that Candace Clark was the gang leader, contending that Michael Sisk must have controlled the group and filing extra charges against the man. The prosecution appeared to discount the rôle of Michaela Clerc, whose lesbian relationship with Tammy Garlin triggered the torture and homicide.^[20] Judge Alan White followed the prosecution's lead, imposing the following sentences on September 9, 2008:

Michael Sisk

The male defendant was sentenced to a minimum of 58 years in prison:

1. Second-degree reckless homicide (Alford plea): 15 years imprisonment, 10 years extended supervision consecutive with all counts
2. Hiding a corpse (guilty plea): 5 years imprisonment, 5 years extended supervision served consecutively
3. False imprisonment (no contest plea): 2 years imprisonment, 2 years extended supervision served consecutively
4. Aggravated battery (no contest plea): 5 years imprisonment, 5 years extended supervision served consecutively
5. Mayhem (guilty plea): 25 years imprisonment, 15 years extended supervision served consecutively
6. Child enticement, intentionally causing great harm (guilty plea): 3 years imprisonment, 5 years extended supervision served consecutively
7. Causing mental harm to a child (guilty plea): 3 years imprisonment, 5 years extended supervision served consecutively
8. False imprisonment (guilty plea): 3 years imprisonment, 3 years extended supervision served consecutively
9. Intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a minor (no contest plea): 2 years imprisonment, 2 years extended supervision served consecutively
10. Obstructing an officer (no contest plea): 9 months mprisonment served consecutively

Candace Clark

The ringleader was sentenced to at least 47 years in prison:

1. Second-degree reckless homicide (no contest plea): 15 years imprisonment, 10 years extended supervision consecutive with all counts
2. Mayhem (guilty plea): 25 years imprisonment, 15 years extended supervision served consecutively
3. Child enticement (guilty plea): 5 years imprisonment, 5 years extended supervision served consecutively
4. Physical abuse of a child (guilty plea): 10 years imprisonment, 5 years extended supervision served concurrently
5. Mental harm to a child (guilty plea): 4 years imprisonment, 4 years extended supervision served consecutively
6. False imprisonment (guilty plea): 3 years imprisonment, 3 years extended supervision served consecutively
7. Causing delinquency of a minor (no contest plea): 3 years imprisonment, 3 years extended supervision served consecutively

Michaela Clerc

The lover of the homicide victim was sentenced to 37 years in prison:

1. Mayhem (no contest plea): 25 years imprisonment, 15 years extended supervision consecutive with all counts
2. Physical abuse of a child (no contest plea): 7 years imprisonment, 5 years extended supervision served consecutively
3. Mental harm to a child (no contest plea): 5 years imprisonment, 5 years extended supervision served consecutively
4. False imprisonment (no contest plea): 3 years imprisonment, 3 years extended supervision served concurrently

Felicia Mae Garlin

Initially charged as an adult, Felicia Garlin faced charges similar to the others.^[21] Under pressure from concerns that Garlin had been under duress following the murder of her mother by Clark and Clerc, the court transferred the 15-year-old to the juvenile division. There, court records remain sealed.^[22][23]

Notes

Primary sources

• Criminal complaint (*.pdf)
• State of Wisconsin vs. Michael J. Sisk, Columbia County Case Number 2007CF000199
• State of Wisconsin vs. Felicia Mae Garlin, Columbia County Case Number 2007CF000198
• State of Wisconsin vs. Michaela Shawn Clerc, Columbia County Case Number 2007CF000197
• State of Wisconsin vs. Candace L. Clark, Columbia County Case Number 2007CF000196