Al-Mutahan McLean, Amanda Hinze and Jennifer Ebert are the three defendants charged in the case of Takoda Collins.
McLean was the boy’s father, Hinze is McLean’s girlfriend and Ebert is Hinze’s sister. All three lived in the Kensington Drive home where authorities say Takoda suffered “extreme abuse” before he died on Dec. 13.
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Authorities say Takoda was beaten and died with cuts and bruises throughout his body. He also allegedly ate his own feces and either drank a lot of water or was held underwater before his death, authorities say.
His death has outraged many community members and prompted an extensive Dayton Daily News investigation into how children’s services and Dayton police’s handled warning signs before Takoda’s death. No one has been charged in Takoda’s death, according to available court documents, but the three were charged with endangering children, and McLean was charged was felonious assault and rape in the case.
The public, including the media, is now unable to view any case documents in McLean’s criminal case. The public is allowed to attend hearings in the case, but all motions, memorandums and any other court documents typically available as a public record have been barred from view.
It is unclear who moved to bar the public from viewing the court documents as there is no access to the case. Messages left for Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Dennis Adkins weren’t returned.
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Both the prosecutors and defense attorney Jeffrey Gramza have asked the judge to also seal Ebert’s case. In a motion, Gramza says the defendant asserts that “the interests of justice require such an order.” The Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office also filed a motion to seal the record. Spokesman Greg Flannagan said the move was to “ensure the integrity of the pending criminal case.”
Flannagan declined further comment, citing the ongoing case.
The judge has not ruled on the motions filed in Eberts’ case and, therefore, the documents are still available to the public. Also, case filings in Amanda Hinze’s case are still open to the public to view.
In Hinze’s case, Adkins continued a motion to suppress hearing, citing coronavirus for the delay. According to the court, Ebert is due back in court this week, while both McLean and Hinze are due back June 3 for the motion to suppress hearing.
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