Parents accused of killing disabled son, burning down house

CHENANGO COUNTY, Texas – A New York couple is accused of killing their 16-year-old developmentally disabled son and then setting their house on fire to cover up the crime.

Ernest and Heather Franklin were arraigned Wednesday. Both have been charged with second-degree murder in the death of their son Jeffrey Franklin.

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Investigators initially thought the March 1 fire was an accident, but Sheriff Ernest Cutting said police grew suspicious after questioning the Franklins.

"They were the last two people that were with Jeffery that night. They're the two people that were directly there. Some of their actions raised red flags," Cutting said.

The investigation took more than three weeks and hundreds of man hours, but their suspicions became validated after the autopsy.

Read more at WKTV


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