Here is a very interesting update on Jeffrey Franklin. Jeffrey is the 17 year
old boy who went on a NOST impressive familial slaughter rampage on Tuesday,
killing both of his parents and critically injuring three of his younger
siblings. First of all, I must say that I have located two GREAT photos of
Jeffrey, that you, yes YOU, can easily view. The first photo shows Jeffrey with
an angelic smile on his face, peering out of the back of a police car,
immediately after being arrested. Jeffrey is barechested, and his smile can
sinceley be called "angelic", despite the fact that Jeffrey is a hard core
satanist. To view this photo, simply launch your web browser to:
http://groupmaster.al.com/city/huntsville/List.asp?section=1&ID=22216
If you enjoy that photo, folks, I suggest you give your browser a workout and
launch it once again, this time to:
http://www.msnbc.com/local/WVTM/22763.asp#22764
At this web page you will see another photo of Jeffrey, also taken right
after his arrest, in which he has a more serious and stern expression on his
face, as he is being led away by cops. His bare chest is clearly visible, to
those of you who might be interested, and despite the fact that I am not gay, I
think that Jeffrey is quite handsome.
C'mon folks, don't be shy. I know you do want to look upon the visage of a 17
year old boy who murdered both his parents and critically wounded 3 of his
siblings, using an AX and a SLEDGEHAMMER. Don't deny yourself this chance,
launch those browsers!
In the below update we do get a fair amount of additional info on Jeffrey,
although not as much as I would have hoped for. We learn that as police
arrested Jeffrey Tuesday night, following a high speed car chase, he
alternately smiled for the media cameras, and SPAT as well. He also stuck out
his tongue and wiggled it at female reporters, and yelled out lewd remarks as
he was being led away by police. Hey, you might as well have some fun,
following such a successful familial rampage of death and brutality.
Jeffrey, at age 17, is the oldest of 5 children. The three siblings that he
brutally bludgeoned about the head and face, remain in critical condition. They
are aged 14, 9, and 6. All of them have undergone emergency surgery, courtesy
of Jeffrey's brutal ax and hammer rampage. The one remaining sibling, a 12 year
old girl, was not at home when Jeffrey chose to launch his rampage. She was at
a dance class, just having fun, as her entire family was being brutalized by
her oldest brother. I wonder if she was taking BALLET class? I just go wild for
images of female ballerinas dancing on the tips of their toes in pointe shoes!
Upon his arrest following the high speed car chase, Jeffrey had blood on his
body. It was freezing cold, but Jeffrey was shirtless, and the outline of a
pitchfork was clearly visible, which he had carved into his own body.
Police have formally charged him with the murders of his parents, and the
attempted murders of his 3 siblings. They are being tight-lipped about a
motive, and are not commenting on the likelihood that Jeffrey was seriously
into the satan myth. A myth that I certainly respect more than the god myth,
but a myth nevertheless.
Reliable sources do confirm that NO gun or knife was used in any of these 5
brutal attacks. They were all committed by Jeffrey, using an axe and a hammer.
One of the severely wounded siblings managed to crawl out of the house before
collapsing. A neighbor called 911 after seeing the bloody girl lying on the
sidewalk. Only ONE ambulance was dispatched, and after paramedics arrived on
the scene and entered the house, they frantically called for additional unit,
finding FOUR additional victims inside.
Ambulances and an entire FLEET of police cars then rushed to the scene. A
policeman who responded to the scene declares: "After 16 years, this is the
worst I've seen." Well, it's nice to hear that Jeffrey gave full and gloriously
gory vent to all of the rage and hate that existed within him.
Police quickly issued an all-points bulletin for Jeffrey, and apparently knew
exactly what car he had fled in, perhaps becaus it was a family car, or maybe
he owned a car already, at age 17. Jeffrey lived in a solidly middle-upper
class neighborhood, and his family was certainly at least middle class, in
terms of wealth. Police tracked down Jeffrey after a security guard spotted him
at a dock. Police replied to the reporting sighting, and crossed paths with
Jeffrey as he drove off. They then gave chase, resulting a high speed pursuit
where he succeeded in running at least one police car off the road. He was only
caught after going into a dead end street and crashing into a fence. Luckily
Jeffrey was not injured in the crash. Perhaps satan WAS looking out for him?
A female high school classmate declares that Jeffrey: "Was really smart, a
nice person up until two years ago. He just changed into a different person. I
dont know why. His attitude was different. He was always in a bad mood, and he
had a really short temper." She also tells us was convinced that Jeffrey had
begun to worship the devil in recent months. Other schoolmates echo her opinion
regarding good old beelzebub. "Jeffrey threatened to cast spells on people",
declared one boy. Well, all I can say is that using an ax and hammer is a LOT
more effective a method of hurting fellow humans, than casting spells is.
We learn that Jeffrey spoke of taking drugs, including Ritalin, which is
often prescribed by doctors for hchildren. It's not known whether Jeffrey had
been forced to take Ritalin, by his Parental Units, in earlier years, or
whether he was prescribed the drug.
In a surprising development, police say they did not and would not test
Jeffrey for drugs! That is odd, the police give no reason, and they apparently
did not even ASK Jeffrey to sumbit to a drug test. During questioning following
his arrest, Jeffrey was quite calm and mostly just stared ahead and declined to
talk. He was not actively aggressive or confrontational with police and
detectives.
I must say that this incident, just like the quadruple murder that occured at
CT lottery headquarters last week, has really grabbed my attention and
fascination, and lifted my spirits quite a lot.
Take care, JOE
The following appears courtesy of the 3/12/98 online edition of The
Huntsville Times newspaper:
'This is the worst I've seen'
AMY FRENCH
Times Staff Writer
3/11/98
Jeffrey Franklin alternately smiled for cameras and spat at news photographers
as Huntsville police arrested him Tuesday night. He stuck out his tongue,
wiggled it and called out lewd taunts to women.
Multiple-murder suspect Jeffrey Franklin "threatened to cast spells on people,"
says Grissom student Mark Dunham. Others say Franklin marked his body with
satanic symbols.
Franklin is 17, the oldest of five children in his family. Less than two hours
before his arrest, Franklins parents had been found bludgeoned to death in
their home, and three of his siblings were critically injured. They were in
critical condition this morning at Huntsville Hospital.
When he was caught by police after a chase, Franklin appeared emotionally
disconnected from the tragedy, but he was stained with blood. In subfreezing
cold, he was shirtless and his chest had been scratched in the faint image of a
pitchfork.
Huntsville police spokesman Wendell Johnson said today that Franklin has been
charged with capital murder (a single charge that can include more than one
death) and three counts of attempted murder.
Police will have no comment on a possible motive for the attack, what weapons
were used or whether Jeffrey Franklin was involved in any type of satanism,
Johnson said. Unofficial but reliable sources, however, have said that an ax
and a hammer were used to kill and injure the Franklins.
Police and HEMSI paramedics were called to Camelot Drive in southeast
Huntsville about 5:20 p.m. Patrol Lt. Barry Pendergraft said a neighbor had
called 911 after seeing one of the Franklin children lying bloody outside the
house.
Paramedics arrived with only one ambulance and one Urban Responder car,
prepared to help one injured child, said HEMSI director Don Webster. As they
entered the Franklin home at 13005 Camelot Drive, they began frantically
broadcasting radio calls for more help.
Two more ambulances, three more Urban Responders and a fleet of police cars
zoomed through rush-hour traffic to the affluent neighborhood.
The paramedics quickly took 6-year-old Christopher Franklin, 9-year-old Timothy
Franklin and 14-year-old Sarah Franklin to Huntsville Hospital, where they
underwent surgery, said hospital officials.
Hospital spokeswoman Terri Bryson said the childrens injuries included gashes
to their faces, necks and heads that appeared to be wounds from an ax or
hatchet. The children also showed signs of blunt force trauma, as if theyd been
struck with a heavy hammer, she said.
The Franklins other daughter, 12-year-old Stacey, wasnt home during the attack.
She was at a dance class, said neighbors with whom she is now staying.
Gerald Franklin, 48, and Cynthia Franklin, 44, were dead when help arrived and
their bodies remained in the Camelot Drive home until a medical examiner from
Birmingham arrived overnight, police said.
The examiner studied the scene for clues before taking the bodies to Birmingham
for autopsies.
"After 16 years, this is the worst Ive seen, Pendergraft said in describing the
inside of the house. He declined to elaborate.
While police have also refused to discuss the weapons used, they said
preliminary examination of Gerald and Cynthia Franklins bodies indicate they
died of blunt-force trauma.
Flashing red-and-blue lights drew a crowd of neighborhood residents outside as
police investigated the scene - a single-story, tan-brick ranch house with a
two-car garage and a basketball goal beside the driveway. The Franklins house
sits in middle-class neighborhood of manicured lawns and $100,000 homes, the
kind of place where people leave bicycles on front lawns without fear of theft.
Word spread quickly that police had issued an all-points bulletin for Jeffrey
Franklin, who reportedly had fled in a blue Geo Metro.
Among the shocked onlookers was 17-year-old Jenny Smith, who attends Grissom
High School, where Franklin is a senior.
"Having something like this happen so close to home, in my neighborhood - its
just too weird, Smith said. "This is far and beyond anything people around here
could imagine happening.
And yet, Smith said, the night seemed a culmination of Jeffrey Franklins
strange behavior in recent years.
"He was really smart, a nice person up until two years ago," she said. "He just
changed into a different person. I dont know why. His attitude was different.
He was always in a bad mood, and he had a really short temper.
Smith said Franklin had lost his temper recently during discussions of God in
their government class, and she was convinced he worshiped the devil.
That claim was repeated by other Grissom students who said Jeffrey Franklin
marked his body with satanic emblems, seeming to enjoy their symbolism and
shock value.
"He threatened to cast spells on people, said Mark Dunham, a fellow student.
And student Adam Salyers said Franklin spoke often of taking drugs - mostly
pills, such as Ritalin, a stimulant that is prescribed for hyperactive
children, but often used illegally by teens as a recreational drug.
Jackie Russell, who used to live near the Franklins, said they always seemed a
very concerned family, "the last people you'd expect this to happen to."
Stacey Franklin often visited the Russells daughter and when she stayed with
the Russells overnight, the Franklins would always inquire what videos or
television programs the girls would be watching, he said.
"They were very nice people," he said.
Sgt. Jeff Pendergraft, supervisor of homicide investigations, said late Tuesday
night that police had not and would not have Franklin tested for drugs. He did
not explain why.
Police caught Jeffrey Franklin after a security guard reported seeing him at
Ditto Landing, a dock and popular fishing spot on the Tennessee River, several
hours after the carnage was discovered. Officers on their way to investigate
the sighting crossed Franklins path on Memorial Parkway at Green Cove Road.
Franklin was headed north, police said, but he turned around and led police on
a chase along Mountain Gap, Bailey Cove and Weatherly roads. Police said
Franklin tried to run officers off the road and succeeded once, on Bailey Cove
Road, where a patrol car was forced onto the curb in front of Hope Presbyterian
Church.
Franklin also reportedly rammed the driver side of a Madison County deputys
patrol car. Sheriff Joe Whisante said deputies joined in the search when it
appeared Franklin might leave the city.
The chase ended at the dead end of Edgehill Drive, where Franklin drove over
residential lawns into a wooden fence. A police dog named Ruger helped officers
force Franklin out of the car and to the ground.
Investigators questioned Franklin until 10:30 p.m., then booked him into the
city jail. They said he was not as confrontational during questioning as he had
been earlier, that he mostly just stared ahead.
Franklin was scheduled to be transferred today from the city jail to the
Madison County Jail, where he will be held without bond. It is standard
procedure to deny bond in cases of capital murder, or murder aggravated by
another crime.
Meanwhile, school officials began trying to cope today with the grief of the
Franklin childrens friends and classmates.
At Grissom, where Jeffrey Franklin attends school, Paula Tally said she and the
other guidance counselors came to work early today to be available to anybody
who needed help.
"Were here to be available if any of them have any emotional problems or
concerns," said Tally. "There are often efforts beyond that to go directly into
the classes that are directly affected."
Plans to do that hadnt been set as of this morning, said Tally, but senior
counselor Mary Cagle and other members of the faculty would probably decide
before the end of the day as to what action to take.
Officials at Challenger Middle School, where Stacey attends, and Challenger
Elementary, where Christopher and Timothy attend, declined to comment except to
say that guidance counselors were available at both schools for helping young
students sort through grief and distress.
It could not immediately be determined what school Sarah Franklin attends.
One of the owners of Primrose School of Bailey Cove, Anita Bertram, said today
that Cynthia Franklin once worked for the day-care center but left a year ago.
Cynthia Franklin worked well with the children, Bertram said, and workers there
had no clue to any problem at home that might have led to Tuesdays violence.
Gerald Franklins co-workers at VME Microsystems International Corp. were
stunned by the news of his death, Faye Robinson, the companys human services
director, said today.
"The majority picked up on it last night," she said. "The ones that didnt know
were extremely upset this morning."
Franklin had been a programmer in software engineering for the computer
hardware and software company since October 1994 after transferring from
Johnson City, N.Y., Robinson said.
"He was extremely nice," she said. "He did an excellent job. We cant imagine
this in our wildest dreams. I know everyone thought a lot of him."
Staff Writers John Mark King, Martin Burkey, Yvonne White, Challen Stephens and
Mike Salinero contributed to this report.
---------------------------------------------------
The following appears courtesy of the MSNBC affiliate online TV station,
WVTM-TV, in Birmingham, Alabama:
Teen-ager charged with capital murder after killing parents, wounding siblings
HUNTSVILLE, March 11 – A teen-ager wielding an ax and a sledgehammer killed
his parents and critically wounded three siblings before leading police on a
“wild car chase,” authorities said.
Jeffrey Franklin faces multiple murder charges.
Jeffrey Franklin, 17, was charged with one count of capital murder and three
counts of attempted murder Tuesday night, said Wendell Johnson, spokesman for
the Huntsville Police Department.
Franklin’s 12-year-old sister and two brothers, ages 6 and 9,were
transported to Huntsville Hospital at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, said Terri Bryson,
director of public relations.
“The children all had very serious head and face injuries in what looked
like an ax and some sort of large, blunt force object,” Ms. Bryson said.
“Police said there was a sledgehammer on the scene.”
Johnson said Gerald Franklin and his wife, Cynthia, ages unknown, were dead
when police arrived at their home.
“Preliminary information shows they died from blunt force trauma injuries,”
Johnson said.
Johnson said Franklin was arrested after “a 25-minute, wild car chase over
curbs and through lawns.”
“A security guard working along the Tennessee River was monitoring his
police scanner when he saw the suspect’s car and called us,” Johnson said.
Police pursued Franklin, who was caught after driving onto a dead-end
street and crashing his car into a backyard fence, Johnson said.
------------------------------
The following appears courtesy of MSNBC affiliate online TV station WOWL-TV,
in Florence, Alabama:
Huntsville teen charged with capital murder
HUNTSVILLE - A Grissom High School student is in custody Wednesday evening
after he allegedly murdered his parents and then tried to kill his three
siblings at their home.
Jeffrey Franklin, a 17-year-old, who has been described by his peers as
having a fascination with the occult and possibly involved in satanic worship
and drugs, wielded an axe and a sledgehammer in his parents home, slaying them.
He then turned on his two brothers and sister, all younger than him and
apparently tried to kill them also.
Gerald Franklin, 48 and his wife Cynthia, 44 were found at 5:15 p.m.
Tuesday, when their 12-year-old daughter ran to a neighbors house for help. She
was injured and bleeding from the attack, her two brothers ages six and nine
suffering from what has been described as a blunt force trauma to the face and
head. All three are listed in critical condition. An 11-year-old sister was not
at home at the time of the incident.
Franklin led the authorities on a car chase which ended when he crashed
into a fence. Shirtless, he was taken into custody, a satanic symbol etched
into the skin of his chest. He has been charged with capital murder.
I don't think he's attractive at all. His looks remind me of Michael J.
Pollard, who's an OK actor, but not much to look at.
JoAnn