FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio — The Franklin County Coroner’s Office released the autopsy report for a 3-year-old boy who died from a fatal dose of Benadryl in April.
The report states that the child died from complications of acute diphenhydramine intoxication. Diphenhydramine is an active ingredient found in Benadryl.
The coroner’s office ruled his death a homicide because the level of diphenhydramine was lethal and it was given by an adult who was under his care.
The boy died on April 13 after he was found unresponsive at a home on London Groveport Road in Darbydale, a town southwest of Grove City.
Authorities said Randy Mollett was a family friend and that the boy was in his care. He told deputies that the boy had a seizure. Medics took the boy to Nationwide Children's Hospital where he later died.
Court records say detectives searched his home and found two bottles of Benadryl. Records also say that Mollett admitted to giving Benadryl to the boy.
According to the report, the child died from complications of acute diphenhydramine intoxication.
Mollett was charged with murder, reckless homicide and child endangerment. His bond was set at $4 million.
Records from Franklin County municipal and common pleas courts show that Mollett previously faced charges related to child endangerment.
In 2008, he was indicted for four counts of endangering children and three counts of felonious assault. He pleaded guilty to one count of endangering children and the other charges were dismissed.
in 2017, municipal court records show that he faced misdemeanor charges for child restraint and seatbelt operator and pleaded guilty to both.
Mollett was fined for child restraint in a motor vehicle equipped with seatbelts in 2023.
