Al Mutahan McLean is the Dayton, Ohio father who pleaded guilty to murdering his 10-year-old son, Takoda Collins, after years of torture and abuse inside their home. In September 2021, a Montgomery County judge sentenced McLean to 51 years to life in prison. The Al McLean and Takoda Collins case exposed repeated failures by local child protective services and pushed Ohio lawmakers to overhaul how abuse reports are shared between schools, agencies, and police.
Who Takoda Was and How McLean Got Custody
Takoda Collins was born in Wisconsin. His biological mother, Robin Collins, could not care for him, and a family friend named Anita Bredeson took the baby in with plans to adopt. When Takoda was about 11 months old, a boyfriend of Robin’s physically abused him, and a children services investigation followed. Takoda spent the next several years moving between three foster families.1WDTN. Woman Who Cared for Takoda Collins at Birth Explains How His Father Gained Custody
McLean had not been part of Takoda’s life. He learned of his son through a human services or child support matter, traveled to Wisconsin, confirmed paternity by DNA test, and won full custody in Dane County family court in 2013.2Channel3000. Wisconsin Grandmother of Murdered Boy Says Father’s Sentencing In 2014, a court cleared McLean to move with Takoda to Pennsylvania. He went to Dayton, Ohio, instead.
The Abuse and Takoda’s Death
Between 2015 and December 2019, according to Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr., Takoda endured “years of sustained extreme abuse and torture.”3Dayton 24/7 Now. Father of Takoda Collins Enters Guilty Plea Court documents and prosecutor statements described beatings, being locked naked in a dirty attic, forced “punishment poses” held for long periods, and being held underwater.4Dayton Daily News. Father Takes Plea Deal in Abuse Death of 10-Year-Old Takoda Collins Prosecutors alleged McLean also raped his son shortly before the child’s death.5Dayton Daily News. Cause, Manner of Death for Takoda Collins Released
Takoda attended Horace Mann Elementary School in Dayton. Staff there contacted agencies 17 times over suspected abuse, with 15 reports from teachers and staff and two from principals.6WDTN. Takoda Collins Elementary Staff Contacted Agencies 17 Times Over Abuse In May 2018, an employee called Dayton Police and Montgomery County Children Services after McLean claimed the boy was sick and absent; the teacher didn’t believe him. Officers went to the house, got no answer, and closed the report.7Dayton 24/7 Now. DPS Superintendent: Takoda Collins Pulled From District in May 2018 Two months later, McLean filed to homeschool Takoda, removing the school’s ability to see him. Dayton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lolli said she believed McLean used the homeschool law “to escape the scrutiny of the school staff.” In 2019, Takoda’s mother called from Wisconsin asking for a welfare check; she said authorities told her nothing appeared wrong.8Dayton 24/7 Now. Mother of 10-Year-Old Takoda Collins Reflects on Her Son’s Death
On December 13, 2019, McLean called 911 after finding Takoda unresponsive. The boy was pronounced dead at Dayton Children’s Hospital. Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger ruled it a homicide, citing three causes: blunt force trauma, compressive asphyxia, and water submersion in a bathtub. Autopsy photos documented cuts and bruises across the child’s body, concentrated on his torso, back, and buttocks.9Dayton Daily News. Coroner Rules Takoda Collins Death a Homicide, No One Charged
Charges, Plea, and Sentence
McLean was initially indicted on four counts of murder along with involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, two counts of child endangering, felonious assault, and rape. A second indictment in 2020 added further counts.10Dayton Daily News. Takoda Collins Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter Charges Filed in Boy’s Death
On September 8, 2021, McLean pleaded guilty to six counts under a plea agreement: murder, rape, kidnapping, and three counts of child endangering. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped the “child under 13” element from the rape charge, and all remaining counts were dismissed. The agreement stipulated that no offenses would merge and that the total sentence would fall between 40 and 51 years to life.11Ohio Second District Court of Appeals. State v. McLean, 2022-Ohio-2806
On September 29, 2021, Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Dennis J. Adkins imposed the top of that range: 51 years to life, with every count running consecutively. The breakdown was 15 years to life for murder, 11 to 16.5 years each for rape and kidnapping, 8 to 12 years for one second-degree child endangering count, and 36 months each for the two third-degree endangering counts. McLean was also designated a Tier 3 sex offender.12WDTN. Sentencing in Takoda Collins Murder; Montgomery Co. Prosecutors Vow to Fix System
At the hearing, Judge Adkins told McLean, “Although you admit what you did, I don’t think you fully understand the depravity of your actions in torturing this innocent child,” and added, “You were very good at manipulating Children Services, and what you told them.” He called the conduct “pure evil.”12WDTN. Sentencing in Takoda Collins Murder; Montgomery Co. Prosecutors Vow to Fix System McLean’s defense team, in a sentencing memorandum, acknowledged he “without reservation accepts that his actions resulted in the death of his son.”13Journal-News. Father, 2 Women Sentenced to Decades in Prison in Death of Southwest Ohio 10-Year-Old
The Two Women Charged Alongside Him
Two women who lived in the household also faced charges. Amanda Hinze, McLean’s fiancée, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and child endangering the same day as McLean and was sentenced to 22 to 27.5 years, with credit for more than 600 days served.14Dayton 24/7 Now. Takoda Collins Father Sentenced for Child’s Death15CBS News. Three People Sentenced in Abuse Death of 10-Year-Old16Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Offender Search – Jennifer Ebert
Appeal and Resentencing
McLean appealed to the Ohio Second District Court of Appeals. In an opinion issued August 12, 2022, the court agreed the trial judge had failed to give mandatory statutory notifications under Ohio Revised Code Section 2929.19(B)(2)(c) and had miscalculated the aggregate minimum and maximum terms under the Reagan Tokes Act. The correct aggregate should have been 36 years minimum and 41.5 years maximum on the qualifying felonies, on top of 15 years to life for murder. The court rejected McLean’s argument that his plea was not knowing and voluntary, finding he understood the consequences.11Ohio Second District Court of Appeals. State v. McLean, 2022-Ohio-2806
The convictions themselves stood. The case went back to the trial court only to fix the procedural sentencing errors. The record available does not show whether McLean sought further review from the Ohio Supreme Court.
Where McLean Is Held Now
According to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records, McLean is incarcerated at Allen Correctional Institution. His parole eligibility date is listed as November 30, 2070, with his first parole board hearing set for October 2070.17Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Offender Search – Al Mutahan McLean
Children Services Failures and What Changed
The case turned intense scrutiny on Montgomery County Children Services. Judge Adkins said Dayton Public Schools teachers “did everything they could in their power” but their reports “fell on deaf ears,” and accused the agency of “merely just going through the motions” and being “very good at passing the buck.”18WHIO. Montgomery County Children Services Responds to Judge’s Comments in Takoda Collins Case Prosecutor Heck determined no felony charges were warranted against individual caseworkers.10Dayton Daily News. Takoda Collins Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter Charges Filed in Boy’s Death
In May 2021, Montgomery County agreed to pay $3.25 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Takoda’s estate alleging the agency failed to protect him despite the school’s repeated reports. Attorney Michael Wright, representing the estate, said, “If they were not culpable in any manner they would not pay $3.25 million dollars to the estate of Takoda Collins.”19WYSO. Montgomery County Children Services Settles Takoda Collins Lawsuit
Takoda’s death also produced a change in state law. Ohio House Bill 4, sponsored by Representative Phil Plummer, a former Montgomery County Sheriff, passed the Ohio House 88 to 1 in May 2021, was signed by Governor Mike DeWine on February 28, 2022, and took effect on May 30, 2022.20Ohio House of Representatives. Plummer-Manchester Child Protection Law Signed by Governor The law requires Public Children Services Agencies to share confidential information from abuse investigations with law enforcement and other government entities, requires agencies and police to notify each other in writing within seven days when reports are received or investigations closed, and gives judges authority to interview a child directly if a parent refuses to allow access to investigators. It also created a Youth and Family Ombudsman Office within the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to investigate complaints about how cases are handled.21Ohio General Assembly. House Bill 4 – Legislative Service Commission Analysis Plummer said, “If this law was in place back then, this never would have happened, because we would have had more eyes on the case.”22ABC6 On Your Side. DeWine Signs Bill in Honor of Takoda Collins Into Law
Local agencies changed procedures as well. Dayton Police updated welfare check protocols to require officers to physically see a child and, if needed, seek search warrants to enter a home. The prosecutor’s office expanded its child protection unit to 10 dedicated prosecutors and reported a 30% jump in child services referrals in 2021. Children Services added staff and began piloting real-time access to case history for officers responding to calls.23Dayton 24/7 Now. Investigation Into Children Services Reforms as Child Abuse Cases Increase