3/2/12 – A former Beaver Dam woman accused of turning a blind eye to the abuse of her children entered a plea of “not guilty by reason of insanity” during an arraignment hearing Thursday. 33-year-old Mandy Molina is charged with two felony counts of Failing to Prevent Child Abuse and three misdemeanor counts of Child Neglect. She was arrested on January 20 along with her boyfriend, 44-year-old Larry Hillyer, who is being held on a $25,000 cash bond in connection with the severe physical and psychological abuse of three children. A judge this week ordered a competency exam for Hillyer, who is not the children’s biological father. He reportedly made
everyone in the house refer to him as “god.” Three children – ages 12, seven and one – were found by police who were responding to a tip from the children’s grandmother. Authorities entered the home and found the children starving, huddled together on a couch wrapped in blankets to keep them from freezing. The baby had bruising, and blistering consistent with burns. The oldest was found with dried eggs on his head in a room littered with food. The middle child had scrapes from reportedly being thrown down the stairs. Police say they found Hillyer and Molina upstairs under a blanket, unable to comprehend questioning. The children were treated at a local hospital and are with relatives. Hillyer remains in custody on a $25,000 cash bond. A status conference is planned for Molina but a date has not yet been set.
