IMMOKALEE, Fla. -- The people involved in the torture and slaying case in Portage allegedly moved to Wisconsin from Florida less than one year ago.

Now, extended family members of slaying victim Tammie Garlin and her 11-year-old son who is in the Intensive Care Unit at University of Wisconsin Hospital are working to raise money to pay his doctor bills, WISC-TV reported.

The family is placing collection jars around Garlin's hometown of Immokalee, Fla., which is about 35 miles south of Fort Meyers.

"We're trying to raise money so we can keep him in the hospital, or whoever gets him. We don't want to lose him," said Garlin's sister Becky Garlin. "We need the money to keep him on machines. That's all we want is to keep them on the machines."

Tammie Garlin's body was found buried in the back yard of the Portage home. Her son was found the same day in a closet. Authorities said that the boy had been seriously tortured with severe burns, WISC-TV reported.

Four people have been charged with Garlin's death and child abuse.