UPDATE: Portage Torture

Save

Reporter: Zac Schultz
Email Address: zschultz@nbc15.com

48 comments

Photos

A | A | A

UPDATED Friday, May 9 --- 8:00am

PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) -- A woman's statements to police investigating a torture and death case in Portage may be used at her murder trial.

Circuit Judge Alan White says his review shows Candace Clark wasn't impaired by a lack of sleep, food or medication, and the questioning by a Portage detective was proper.

White's eight-page decision denied Clark's motion seeking to rule out the use of those statements when she goes on trial July 7.

Charges against the 24-year-old Clark and 26-year-old Michael Sisk include first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse and child abuse.

Clark contended at a motions hearing last week that she was confused from a lack of diabetes medication, food and water when she gave statements to police after her arrest.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE Posted Tuesday, April 29 --- 8:20am
UPDATE Posted Monday, April 28 --- 5:55pm

PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) -- A woman charged in a torture-murder case that left a boy severely injured and his mother dead says she was confused from a lack of diabetes medication, food and water when she told Portage police about what happened to the victims.

Twenty-four-year-old Candace Clark testified at a motions hearing today in Columbia County Circuit Court. She says she had not understood she had a right to speak with a lawyer, and that what she said during those initial interviews with police could be held against her at trial.

Judge Alan White plans to listen to recordings of the three interviews before deciding whether Clark's statements can be used during her jury trial scheduled in July.

Clark and 26-year-old Michael Sisk are charged in the death last June of Tammie Garlin and the abuse and torture of Garlin's son, who was 11 at the time. Another woman has pleaded no contest to various charges in a plea deal, and Garlin's teenage daughter is being prosecuted as a juvenile.

Authorities say the two led a crew that traveled the country using false names and stolen identities to run financial scams.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATED: Friday --- March 14, 2008 --- 11:00am

PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) -- A judge has granted separate trials for the leaders of a gang of drifters accused of torturing an 11-year-old boy and killing his mother.

26 year-old Michael Sisk and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Candace Clark, each face multiple charges that include being a party to first-degree intentional homicide, child abuse and false imprisonment.

Investigators say Sisk and Clark led a band of scam artists across the country.

Police discovered an 11-year-old boy locked in a closet with burns all over his body in a home the group rented in Portage. Officers also found the body of the boy's mother, Tammie Garlin, buried in a shallow grave behind the house.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Updated Friday --- February 29, 2008 -- 6:45pm

Portage: One of the people accused of torturing a boy and killing his mother in Portage last summer pleaded no contest to 4 charges Friday.

Her lawyer says she was involved in torturing the boy, but not to the extent two others were.

Michaela Clerc showed no emotion at her plea hearing Friday in Columbia County Court.

Clerc is one of three adults facing charges for the scene discovered in Portage last June.

Clerc and two others are accused of torturing an 11 year old boy by pouring boiling water on him, whipping him with an electrical cord, starving him and locking him naked in a closet.

Michael Sisk and Candace Clark are charged with that and also for murdering the boy's mother Tammie Garlin, and burying her body in the backyard.

Clerc pleaded no contest to being a party to mayhem for cutting or mutilating the boy, physical abuse of a child, causing mental harm to a child and false imprisonment.

Five other charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal, but the judge can consider them when he determines Clerc's sentence.

"I think the charges accurately reflect her actual conduct in this case," says Mark Frank, Clerc's lawyer. He says the sentence will determine if this was a good deal. "We're optimistic she'll receive some prison sentence which reasonably reflects her involvement in these cases."

District Attorney Jane Kohlwey is free to argue for the maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. She says a pre-sentence investigation will show more of what Clerc did. "We are developing over time a clearer and clearer story of what actually happened at 304 Oneida St. We believe Ms. Clerc was intricately involved with this part of this horrible saga."

Michael Sisk and Candace Clark, are still headed towards a trial. They've asked to be tried separately and have their trials moved out of Columbia County. Kohlwey says she's not opposed to trying them separately, but still wants them tried here.

The judge will rule on those motions by this spring.

Friday's deal does not obligate Clerc to testify if Sisk or Clark go to trial, but her lawyer says she would most likely cooperate.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Updated Thursday --- February 28, 2008 --- 5:30pm

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A member of a gang of drifters accused of torturing a boy in Portage has reached a plea deal with prosecutors to resolve her case.

Attorney Mark Frank says 21-year-old Michaela Clerc will plead no contest on Friday to being a party to false imprisonment, mayhem, causing mental harm to a child and physical child abuse.

Frank says prosecutors have agreed to drop five other counts against his client, including being a party to battery, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and obstructing an officer.

Prosecutors initially charged Clerc with helping the gang kill the boy's mother and burying her in the backyard of their rental house. But they dropped those counts in November.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted Monday --- November 19, 2007 -- 4:45pm

PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) -- A judge has ordered a trial for the leader of a gang of drifters and his girlfriend, who are charged with murdering another member of the group.

Judge Alan White ordered a trial for 25-year-old Michael Sisk and his girlfriend, 23-year-old Candace Clark. They are charged with murder in the death of 36-year-old Tammie Garlin. Her body was found buried behind their Portage apartment in June.

The couple also is accused of torturing Garlin's then 11-year-old son, who was found locked in a closet.

Prosecutors have dropped a murder charge against another member of the group, 21-year-old Michaela Clerc. She still faces a number of charges, as does Garlin's 16-year-old daughter, whose case has been moved to juvenile court.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted Monday --- November 19, 2007 -- 11:02am

PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) -- A pediatrician testified Monday the 11 year-old boy found tortured at a Portage house was the most beaten child she's ever seen that was still living.

Barbara Knox from UW Children's Hospital says the boy was in grave condition when he arrived at the emergency room June 14th.

Knox says he was "profoundly malnourished" and had pneumonia. He had burns, bruises and scars all over his body. The pediatrician testified that the boy looked like a "concentration camp survivor." Several of his finger tips and three toes had to be amputated because they were burned so badly.

The testimony came during a preliminary hearing for Candace Clark and Michael Sisk. They're accused of torturing the boy, killing his mother and burying her in the backyard of the house they were renting in Portage.

Prosecutors Monday dropped a charge of party to murder and hiding a corpse against Michaela Clerc. She agreed to waive her preliminary hearing. She still faces other charges.

A Columbia County judge will decide whether there's enough evidence against Clark and Sisk to hold them for trial.

The boy's sister is also accused in the crimes, but will face charges in juvenile court.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted Wednesday --- November 14, 2007

A teen charged in the Portage murder and child abuse case will not be tried as an adult.

The girl was 15 years old last summer.

Wednesday, the Columbia County District attorney confirmed they will dismiss all charges for the girl in adult court.

She is accused of helping three adults kill and bury her mother.

The group also allegedly tortured her 11 year-old brother at a rental home in Portage.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted Tuesday --- November 13, 2007

PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) -- An attorney for the 16-year-old girl accused of helping kill her mother and torture her brother says the teen's case may be moved to juvenile court.

Public defenders say they're negotiating with prosecutors to end adult proceedings for Felicia Garlin before her preliminary hearing early next week.

The defense had filed a motion to dismiss the most serious charges against Garlin, in order to push the case to juvenile court. A Columbia County judge was scheduled to take up the motion Monday, but public defenders withdrew it because of negotiations.

Garlin was 15 when she was accused of helping three adults kill and bury her mother and torture her 11-year-old brother at a rental home in Portage last summer.

23 year-old Candace Clark, 21 year-old Michaela Clerc and 25 year-old Michael Sisk are the adults accused in the crimes.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted Tuesday --- November 6, 2007 -- 5:17pm

4 suspects in a horrific child abuse and murder case out of Portage appeared before a judge on Tuesday to determine whether the boy at the center of the case will testify in-person at a preliminary hearing in about two weeks.

We're learning more about the boy. In October, he turned 12-years-old. He's attending school at the 5th grade level, though he reads and writes somewhere between 1st and 4th grade.

Physically, he's doing better since he was found at the home, but he suffers from serious mental health problems, including post traumatic stress disorder. His problems were among the reasons, the judge said, a videotaped interview will serve as his testimony in court later this month.

A Columbia County social worker was one of two people called to testify by the state. Attorneys for the four defendants called no witnesses.

The social worker testified the boy is confused about whether his behavior caused harm to his mother or if he could've helped her.

Recall, the boy's mother Tammie Garlin was found buried behind the defendants' home on Oneida Street. Her daughter, Felicia, as well as Candace Clark, Michaela Clerc and Michael Sisk all faces charges in connection with her murder.

A detective lieutenant with Portage Police videotaped the interview with the boy in June while he was being treated at UW Hospital.

The state argued against the boy testifying in-person at an upcoming preliminary hearing, saying it would re-victimize him.

Much of the defense attorneys cross examination had to do with whether the boy was medicated and how heavily during the interview in his hospital bed. They also discussed some inconsistent statements regarding alleged abuse by his mother, and whether he knew the difference between telling the truth and telling a lie.

But, ultimately the judge ruled the tape will serve as testimony. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 19th.

________________________________________________________________________

Posted Tuesday --- October 16, 2007 -- 5:16pm

The 16-year-old Portage girl accused of helping to kill and bury her mother and torture her 11-year-old brother in June appeared in court Tuesday.

Felecia Garlin's lawyer asked a Columbia County judge to allow the 16 year old to appear in preliminary court proceedings wearing street clothes.

Garlin is accused along with 3 others of killing and burying her mother behind a Portage home.

Her 11 year old brother was found inside of a closet where he had been tortured and starved for several months.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Report Posted --- July 20, 2007

All four suspects charged in a child abuse murder investigation in Portage will appear in court Friday.

23-year-old Candace Clark, 25 year old Michael Sisk, 20 year old Micaela Clerc and 15-year-old Felicia Garlin ... are all charged in connection with the murder of Tammie Garlin and abusing her 11-year-old son.

Garlin was found buried in the backyard of the suspect's home last month.

Police also found her son in a closet, severely burned and malnourished.

The four face a total of 43 counts in connection with the case.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

A 15-year-old girl and three adults are charged with murdering the girl's mother and torturing her 11-year-old brother.

4 people face a total of 43 counts ... ranging from obstructing an officer, to child abuse and murder. There are so many people involved, so here is a synopsis of the individuals and their relationships.

Last week, investigators discovered the body of Tammie Garlin buried in a backyard in Portage. Her 11-year old son was found in a closet, severely burned and abused.

Four people are charged with Tammie Garlin's murder, including her 15-year old daughter, Felicia, and Garlin's partner, Michaela Clerc. Police believe Clerc was angry because she thought Tammie cheated on her.
The two others charged are Michael Sisk and Candace Clark who are boyfriend/girlfriend. Clark does have 3 children, including a 2-year old girl whom she allegedly kidnapped from a foster home in Florida.
Police learned about this entire story when they went searching for that child.

All four suspects made their first court appearance Wednesday and more details about how the crimes were carried out were released in a criminal complaint. The abuse initially started with the 11 year old boy. His 15 year old sister, his own mother, and three other adults he lived with were his alleged abusers.

We want to warn you, some of these new details may be disturbing and are not suited for small children.

Police say it all happened behind closed doors in a Portage home. An 11 year old boy was doused in scalding hot or boiling water. He was whipped with an extension cord, kicked, choked and forced to drink so much water he would pass out. Columbia county district attorney, Jane Kohlwey says the boy, "was placed into confined, small areas within the household and that would certainly tend to cause mental harm. He was also forced to go into the bathroom and then into the tub to have the scalding water placed on him."

The criminal complaint says the abuse went on over the course of a few months. The boy was tortured at least 10 times and had to be carried from the home because his feet were so badly burned he couldn't walk. Portage police detective Mark Hahn says seeing the child is difficult. "It's tough when you see any child that has to go through abuse like that, that he's gone through," explained Hahn.

At first, the boy's mother, Tammie Garlin, was one of the abusers. However, a criminal complaint says she soon became a victim too. It alleges she also became part of the scalding water abuse, but it didn't end there. The criminal complaint says Michael Sisk hit Tammie Garlin over the head with a folding chair causing two large cuts. The complaint says Michaela Clerc used a sewing needle and thread to close up Garlin's wounds. "There were sutured lacerations and as the complaint states, they certainly weren't done by any medical professional. They appeared to be very primitive," said Columbia County Medical Examiner Marc Playman.

The complaint says when Garlin became too sick and weak to walk she was kicked and hit by the teen and other adults in the household eventually she was strangled.

Garlin's 15 year old daughter is accused of taking part in the abuse and the murder of her mother. The criminal complaint says she helped get her mother out of the home, into the car trunk, and then later helped bury her mother in the backyard.

The teen and 3 other adults are charged with murder. In addition, the three adults are charged with an additional count of contributing to the delinquency of a child.

They are all charged with five counts related to the 11-year old boy.

Those counts include abuse, false imprisonment and "mayhem" -- which is severe abuse to the head, feet, and hands.

Felicia Garlin and Michaela Clerc are being held on bond. Both Candice Clark and Michael Sisk were denied bail.

Click Pictures to Enlarge

More Stories
Recession, Depression or Worse?

UPDATE: Mother Accused of Killing Baby

Man Stabbed in Parking Lot of Fast Food Restaurant

UPDATE: Murder Investigation in Dodge County

CrimeTracker 15: Man in Wheelchair Punched, Robbed

Officer Involved in Crash

Circus World Museum Fire "Suspcious"

Wall Street Tumbles Amid Global Sell-Off

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 10, 2008 at 11:03 AM
I agree w/ the death penalty why fill the prisons w/ these insane people.

Posted by: Geoff Location: Madison on May 10, 2008 at 08:25 AM
First it was, I was under stress due to not being given food, water and medication. Next it will be they are not mentally stable or they all suffer from some sort of mental disease. I strongly feel that when crimes involve children, the plea of mental anything should be thrown right out the window. Too easy for people to claim mental illness and basically get away with murder. In cases such as these, I say bring back capital punishment and fry the hell out of them!! Actually, is it not stated in the Bible, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth"? Kinda wonder myself how all the religious factions claim taking a life is immoral yet God did it (at least that is what is said in the Bible). Case in point, I believe the last plague God set upon man was the deaths of all first born. But, that is another story. Things that make you go hmmm....

Posted by: Matt Location: Madison on May 10, 2008 at 07:53 AM
Death Sentance is right. Unfortunatly, we have too many bleeding heart liberals that will say how these people can be reformed and how we should reform them. Our tax dollars at work to house and feed these animals!?! I moved here from Texas and they have problems but they know how to deal with sickos like this! DEATH PENALTY!!! The best part is prisoners do have their own code and they do not like child abusers!

Posted by: jules Location: dane co on May 9, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Death Penalty

Posted by: a thought on May 9, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Maybe she could have save herself the headache by reporting the crime when it was happening.

Posted by: Jackie Location: Wisconsin Dels on Apr 30, 2008 at 09:43 AM
I just love how these murders, rapist and everyone else just MAKES excuses everytime they commit a crime, and NOW ooo I didn't have food, or I didn't take my medicine, so the court lets me go or do this or that BUT Jail!!! or prision!!!!!!! THEN THEY DO IT AGAIN!!! No wounder a criminal always does another crime, they said oo i didn't take my medicine thats why I killed someone, THEY KILLED SOMEONE BOTTOME LINE< THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED!!!!!!! BY JAIL OR PRISON!!!!

Posted by: Pete Location: Portage on Apr 29, 2008 at 09:25 AM
The Judge hearing this case is the best Judge in Columbia County. He will not tolerate a bunch of crap.

Posted by: gary Location: madison on Apr 29, 2008 at 07:57 AM
Boo hoo! She was not given water or food, poor thing! Who really gives a damn! How about that poor child? ALL testimony given by any of these creeps should be admissable. Actually, there should be NO plea arrangements, deals with the prosecuters or any of the likes. They should all be tried on all counts brought against them. The only deal that should be given is the state promises that the defendants WILL be released to the general public of the prison so the inmates can have their turn with these fools! Hope all 3 of you rot in hell!

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 28, 2008 at 06:53 PM
FCC? You have GOT to be kidding. That's just funny. FCC does not have regulate the internet. They regulate broadcasting. 2 different things.

Posted by: anonymous on Mar 15, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Yes she should be tried as an adult. She may not have a high IQ (as stated by other readers comments) but still knows the difference between right and wrong. Part of me believes that she enjoyed the torturing of her brother and mother. She sure didn't stand up for her family members at all. She could have gone for help. I'm the oldest of 4 and have 2 brothers and would NEVER do anything like that to them no matter how mad I got. I'm also a mother and we as a family discuss things that happen like this. I try to answer any questions that they have to hopefully better educate them. Maybe all of them should be locked in closet and have the same done to them or let them rome in any prison they won't last long. Prisoners HATE people that hurt children.

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 15, 2008 at 07:31 AM
all i have to say is do unto others as you want done to you

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Wisconsin on Mar 14, 2008 at 03:48 PM
She is a teen, info about her has stated she does not have a very high IQ. I think this says most of what it needs to but also shows you how she too is a victim of the others taking advantage of her. She does not function at the same level of others her age. Yes she should know right and wrong, but most teens have some pretty impaired judgement, maybe more so for her.

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 14, 2008 at 01:03 PM
People like that do not deserve to be represented by anyone. That judge looked pretty ticked off too.

Posted by: Deanna on Mar 6, 2008 at 05:34 PM
I wonder if she should be charged at all. I do not know the extent of her involvement, but a child faced with her brother being abused and her mother being killed, one has to ask if she went along as a way of protecting herself. History is full of poeple who have done horrible things because if they hadn't they would have been tortured or killed themselves. Has anyone talked to the girl to find out why she did these things. I am not excusing what was done, I find it horrible and I wonder how anyone could treat another human being that way. How anyone could purposely hurt another person is beyond my comprehension. Human life is sacred, no one has the right to take another life. I just wonder how she got to the point of hurting the two people who should have been the most important people in her life.

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 2, 2008 at 10:59 AM
teens are NOT adults ! or they would not be TEENS ! stop making special rules as you see fit ! maybe we should treat you as a child since you think like one !

Posted by: hummm on Mar 2, 2008 at 07:07 AM
They all deserve life. No one called for help so they should not given any exceptions for saying stuff now. Teens need to be accountable for their actions so should be treated as adult court. They knew what they had done. They could have called the authorities but didn't.

Posted by: Sue Location: Janesville on Mar 1, 2008 at 11:14 PM
If she was old enough to abuse and murder she is old enough to go to adult court. A slap on the wrist that juvy court would give is not enough in this instance. That poor child...losing his mother and also sufffering such abomination. He will bare the emotional scars for life. 40 years w/o parole should give this group a chance to THINK about what they did. It is unbeleivable how someone can treat another human being like that. And I am sick of there always being a scapegoat like: my parents didn't care.....or I didn't have a good childhood. Crap! Lots of people have it rough growing up and they don't go out and do something so horrible. It is just an out and they get away with it. They should be punished to the full extent of the law and learn that actions have consequences. pay for your sins people!

Posted by: Gary Location: Madison on Mar 1, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Given a plea deal? Because she was not As involved in this? What the hell?!! She knew it was going on she was involved and she failed to help this child. Give HER a break? And anonymous, freedom of speech is just that. Maybe you need a lesson in our Constitution and what it stands for. Your arguement is weak at best. Do everyone a favor and YOU stop visiting this site if it offends you so much. Funny how people always sign their posts as anonymous and have the biggest complaints! Oh and please do not turn me in to the FCC because I do not agree with you

Posted by: CS Location: UNKNOWN on Mar 1, 2008 at 07:22 AM
All three deserve anything less than what was done to the boy and woman. Prison for life without parole is what they all deserve.

Posted by: Suzie Location: Madison on Feb 29, 2008 at 07:15 PM
This is what happens when people don't parent. Seems the victims didn't have parents, and the criminals (parents) didn't have parents either!

Posted by: A on Feb 29, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Earlier I printed a comment that they did not even post. I want everyone to know how hurt I am about that.

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 29, 2008 at 04:37 PM
If you are such "good parents" then why do you write that stuff? Don't you think that a child will read it? You are telling her to not visit the site. What about the kids who read the news on line? They don't deserve to read that trash! GROW UP!! Freedom of speech does not include hurting people who visit a site by mistake!

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 29, 2008 at 02:40 PM
KC: I think that you should get a life. It is channel 15 that printed her comment. They did not have to. Maybe they agree with her and agree that those comments are SICK!

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 29, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Anonymous on Feb 29. everyone on this chat page has the right to free spech. As KC has stated if you don't like the comments being post, then stop reading them. You much not be a parent. Me being a parent would love to see all four of them to get justice in prison.

Posted by: KC on Feb 29, 2008 at 12:57 PM
to Anonymous on Feb 29th. if you don't like what you read, stop reading it!!! and while you're at it stop throwing threats out there.... "If you don't prevent these comments, I am going to report your chat line to the FCC!" GET REAL & GET A LIFE!

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I hope that part of here plea deal is to testify against the other two. Giving any one of the 3 a plea deal is not fair to the two victims. Ths women gets charges droped; but what about the poor boy that went through all the pain. He did not get a choose of what happened to him behind them closed door. My heart still goes out to that poor boy. And I am sorry to say, but I do not feel sorry for the girl. She could of ran out and got help at any time.

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 29, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Dear WMTV-I believe that you should not print the messages that contain the threat of "Potential Prison Sodomy." There are people who post those messages on almost every comment section, please see, "A" from "madtown" below. These are very sick people. "Let the prisoners take care of them" is a very sick thing to say. If you don't prevent these comments, I am going to report your chat line to the FCC!

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 29, 2008 at 09:56 AM
If we don't prosecute the teen as an adult we continue the president that states that teens can get away with murder because they are teens. It is time that we start to hold teens accountable for their actions unless they are mentally handicapped. If these crimes were committed by the teen because of mental deficiency, the teen should be locked in Mendota for 15 years!

Posted by: Nadine Location: Fort Atkinson on Feb 29, 2008 at 06:06 AM
Is there any further information on how the 11 year-old boy is doing after this horrific assault of his mind and body?

Posted by: SAM Location: Richland Center on Feb 28, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Fifteen year olds should know right from wrong. This was not a minor issue; this was severe abuse and murder. If she doesn't know the difference between right and wrong why would/should we want her loose in the general public, now or in the future? The very severity of the crimes should dictate adult court. I think we are too soft on people too much of the time.

Posted by: anonymous on Feb 28, 2008 at 02:47 PM
eye for an eye...

Posted by: anonymous Location: madtown on Nov 21, 2007 at 08:04 AM
Besides the stupid smurk on the face of Sisk (bet he wont be smiling when they release him into the general public in prison) has anyone else noticed the eyes of these people??? PURE EVIL!! I say try them all as adults and let the prisoners take care of them. I did something stupid in my younger years and spent time in a correctional facility and can tell you first hand, these types of offenders will be taken care of and the guards will not stop it from happening either. Remember Jeffrey Dahmer, he was to be supervised all the time he was out of his cell.

Posted by: Jamie Location: Janesville on Nov 20, 2007 at 09:31 AM
I would have to say Juvenile Court, because she was probably very scared for her own life but she should be very greatly punished for not trying to go to the police for the safety of her little brother.

Posted by: Scott Location: Poynette on Nov 20, 2007 at 07:56 AM
The recent developments are not a surprize from Columbia County DA. Since I heard one of ADA's say "killing somebody is not a crime". I wouldn't be surprized if they all got off easy.

Posted by: me Location: madiso on Nov 19, 2007 at 04:43 PM
nTo all you sypathizers with this 15, 16, year old girl, would you feel the same if it was YOUR child beaten, burned and starved. What a bunch of hypocrits

Posted by: Megan Location: Janesville on Nov 19, 2007 at 03:21 PM
I say juvenile court. I know the things she did were the worst things someone can do to their own family, but she is 15. In the US an adult is at the age of 18, and until they are 18 they should not be tried as an adult.

Posted by: Rosa Location: Madison on Nov 19, 2007 at 12:15 PM
So what she was 15 when she committed that Crime, she should still be tried as an Adult. To do this to her own Mother and to her own Brother. Yes, she needs Help, but what she needs more then that is to be tried as an Adult. WHY in the World would she be tried as a Juvenile, that is such an injustice. As a Juvenile she would be out in how many Years? and then what. Her own Brother got a Life Sentence for all they did to him. Let's get Justice for him and his Mother. What ever happened to him, how is he doing. And the other People involved should get Life without Parole, just like his Sister.

Posted by: anonymous on Nov 15, 2007 at 11:14 AM
She knew what she was doing...she is a monster. The Garlin family lived a normal life before they met Sisk and his gang. Let her pay for her crimes like the rest of them. She deserves it!

Posted by: TL Location: wisconsin on Nov 14, 2007 at 07:38 PM
Just another way our justice system lets you get away with murder.

Posted by: lia Location: dane co on Nov 14, 2007 at 09:03 AM
juvenile court....she a child and unfortunately she probably knows no other way of life than what the "adults" around her taught her.

Posted by: Meg Location: Janesville on Nov 13, 2007 at 04:26 PM
It's hard to say adult/juvenile court. Was she doing what she "thought" to survive/escape dying herself? Or a born to murderer? The thought process in adolescents can be manipulated..even to murder/abuse. Not an easy answer. We do not know everything that went on, I'm sure.

Posted by: Jim Location: Pardeeville on Nov 13, 2007 at 02:45 PM
Maybe she was told that if she did not cooperate, she might end up the same way

Posted by: K on Nov 13, 2007 at 12:55 PM
Why even waste the time on a trail? These people don't deserve any kind of a chance. How disgusting!

Posted by: Sara on Nov 7, 2007 at 09:38 AM
It's times like these that I wish we had capital punishment in this state. These people deserve to be tortured the way they tortured that poor child who will never have a normal life. They aren't people, they're monsters...

Posted by: Anonymous Location: madison on Oct 18, 2007 at 08:17 PM
I say "An eye for an eye"...torture them, make them get into scaulding hot water, whip them with extension cords, starve them, then let them die a slow painful death, while sitting in a closet. They're pathetic!! And why do any of them deserve to have new clothes, and I'm sure a decent meal....this whole thing is disgusting! I feel so sorry the the young boy, God bless him and I hope he comes out of this as best as he possibly can, with a 2nd chance at life.

Posted by: Bill Location: Mazomaine on Oct 17, 2007 at 06:24 PM
Yes give them all New cloths and make them Look nice !!! And then throw the switch and say GOOD_BYE !!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Madison on Oct 17, 2007 at 12:16 PM
As a tax payer I would not be pleased to purchase "street clothes" for this individual who is on trial for murder and torturing an 11 year old. I know we will be covering the cost of her legal fees, isn't that enough? Maybe we should remind her how she left her brother locked in a closet without the basics, but now she is getting more than that and is still wanting more. Forget it!!

Posted by: Rachel Location: Monroe on Oct 17, 2007 at 08:09 AM
LOCK THEM ALL UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEY!