Karreon Franks trial: Couple sentenced to decades in prison for starving autistic son, 15, to death
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
WASHINGTON, DC: Felicia L Adams and Jesse C Franks, a married couple from Washington state, have been sentenced to 35 and 30 years, respectively, for the heinous killing of their autistic 15-year-old adoptive son, Karreon Franks in 2020.
Clark County Superior Court Judge Suzan L Clark presided over the emotionally charged sentencing hearing, describing it as one of the most difficult cases she has encountered in her nearly 40 years on the bench.
However Adams in a remorseless manner, expressed dissatisfaction stating, "I just feel like I wasn’t portrayed in the best light and that’s too bad."
Timeline of Karreon Franks' death
Karreon Franks passed away in a Vancouver, Washington hospital on November 27, 2020, just one day after Thanksgiving. Hospital records presented during the trial revealed that the 15-year-old, who stood at 5 feet 3 inches, weighed a mere 61 pounds at the time of his death.
Prosecutors argued that Karreon had lost approximately 47% of his body weight from July 2019, shedding light on the severity of the abuse he endured.
What are the charges against Felicia L Adams and Jesse C Franks?
The court sentenced Adams and Franks to lengthy prison terms after the couple was found guilty of homicide by domestic abuse and other charges related to the abuse of Karreon's younger brothers ages 13 and 14.
Judge Clark expressed her deep sorrow over the tragic fate of Karreon, stating, "What happened to Karreon is one of the saddest things I have seen in 37 years — a child with special needs in the condition he was in when he died," as per Law & Crime.
During the sentencing hearing, Adams addressed the court defiantly and remorselessly, saying, "I just feel like I wasn’t portrayed in the best light and that’s too bad. Now, I have to be OK with whatever happens."
Despite the convictions and sentencing, attorneys for Adams and Franks have announced their intention to appeal.
