Cops: Taser, spatula likely used in abuse
Mother of dead Dayton boy, 10, says she wishes she kidnapped him.
— Authorities believe that a Taser and a metal spatula may have been among the items used as part of alleged extreme child abuse against a now-dead Dayton 10-year-old, according to a warrant obtained by the Dayton Daily News.
A search warrant affidavit filed in Dayton Municipal Court by Dayton police as part of their investigation shows that they learned through interviews with three subjects that a number of items were used to allegedly abuse Takoda Collins.
The boy’s father, Al-Mutahan McLean, faces four counts of endangering children, two counts felonious assault, and one count rape of a child under the age of 13, after indictments in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.
Also, Amanda Hinze, 28, and Jennifer Ebert, 25, two sisters who authorities said both lived in the house, are charged with four counts of endangering children. All three are due back in court today for arraignment, and law enforcement said they are continuing to investigate the case.
Dayton police said in the warrant they were called to a home on Dec. 13 because Takoda had stopped breathing. They describe him in the affidavit as wet and laying on the living room floor.
It says emergency personnel were able to get a pulse, but doctors at Dayton Children’s Hospital weren’t able to save his life.
“While speaking with (hospital) staff, (a detective) observes cuts and bruising all over Collins,” the affidavit says. “(Police) respond to 1935 Kensington Avenue to speak with McLean and other witnesses.”
Through their investigation, police determined they needed to take the three suspects to the station for the interview, where they learned that evidence might be at the house, the affidavit says.
“During the course of the interview, information is obtained from all three subjects referencing items used in child abuse,” the search warrant says. “These items include a pink Taser, metal spatula, a green cot and plastic covers.”
The return on the search warrant says the warrant was served on Dec. 16, and that property was taken from the residence including four Taser style dog collars, two cell phones, a combination lock recovered from the upstairs attic and three pairs of work boots.
The Taser, spatula, cots and covers were not listed as collected in the report.
Also, for the first time, Takoda’s mother, Robin Collins, spoke with the Dayton Daily News about her son’s death. She said she tried to warn authorities that her son was in danger and now wishes she just would have gone ahead and kidnapped him.
She told the newspaper that she called the police and filed documents with a Wisconsin court, begging them to get Takoda out of the home where authorities have since said the boy was locked naked in an attic, emotionally and physically abused, raped and eventually either held underwater or forced to drink a lot of water before he died Dec. 13.
Robin Collins, who lives in Wisconsin, said she knew something was wrong and wanted someone in power to do something about it.
“I called and did welfare checks on him,” Robin Collins said in an interview with the Daily News. “I called the cops down there, and just this past summer I was trying to get custody back again, and nobody did anything about it.”
The Dayton Daily News has attempted to get court records from Dane County Circuit Court in Wisconsin as it relates to Takoda’s custody but was informed much of the case is confidential. However, according to online court record dockets, Robin Collins did file an “order to show cause and affidavit of contempt” in May in the case.
Robin Collins said she filed that because she believed McLean was mistreating Takoda. She also says she called Montgomery County Regional Dispatch numerous times, asking them to check on Takoda’s well-being.
That’s supported by public records obtained by the Daily News last week.
“Robin continues to call in well checks. Takoda is being taken care of and still has behavioral issues. Al appears to be taken care of his needs with no concerns,” a dispatch log from May 14 says. “He explained that Robin was given no custodial rights but he still allows Takoda to speak with her and she makes promises that she never follows through with. Dispatch attempted to call Robin back but there was no answer.”
A statement from the Dayton Police Department was released to the newspaper Monday.
“The Dayton Police Department Homicide Squad is currently compiling and analyzing all available information regarding the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Takoda Collins,” the statement said. “The investigation is ongoing, and although Al-Mutahan McLean, Amanda Hinze, and Jennifer Ebert have all been indicted for charges related to the care and treatment of the victim, many details are not yet available to bring this investigation to conclusion. The Dayton Police Department makes every effort to analyze the response to incidents such as this to ensure we are providing the best possible service, as well as to identify any areas that can be improved upon.”
Looking back, Robin Collins says she should have acted instead of hoping someone with power would do something.
“I wish I would have just gone down there and kidnapped him, to be honest. Because that was the only option I had was to go to jail and take him from his father,” she said. “I really wish I would have just gone and got him.”
Robin Collins said she already had spent some time in jail in connection to Takoda. According to court online court records, Collins was charged with child abuse — intentionally causing harm, battery and neglect of a child in Dane County in 2009.
Robin Collins told the newspaper she was charged after her boyfriend hit her while she was holding 11-month-old Takoda. The Daily News has requested those court documents from Dane County last week but hasn’t received them.
Robin Collins said because of the abuse case, child protective services in Wisconsin took Takoda away from her, prompting her drug use. She said her battle with drug addiction led to more criminal charges against her, and she went to prison after the sentence on the original case was revoked.
She said she has been off heroin for a year and currently lives with her 8-yearold daughter in a good home. She said she could have provided the same home for Takoda.
Robin Collins noted that McLean also wasn’t without runs-ins with the law when he was awarded custody of Takoda.
“I don’t understand how they let him leave with my son,” Robin Collins said. “They still gave him this baby and let him leave the state (of Wisconsin).”