Jeffrey Franklin Murder: Where Are Ernest and Heather Franklin Now?

Jeffrey Franklin Murder: Where Are Ernest and Heather Franklin Now?

When firefighters in rural Guilford, New York, responded to reports of a burning house, they did not expect to find human remains inside. It was later determined to be the body of Jeffrey Franklin, an adopted boy with disabilities, who lived in that house. Initially thought of as a victim of the flames, the police soon discovered that a sinister story lay underneath the tragedy.

When firefighters in rural Guilford, New York, responded to reports of a burning house, they did not expect to find human remains inside. It was later determined to be the body of Jeffrey Franklin, an adopted boy with disabilities, who lived in that house. Initially thought of as a victim of the flames, the police soon discovered that a sinister story lay underneath the tragedy.

Investigation Discovery’s ‘The Murder Tapes: Things Weigh on You’ chronicles the terrifying murder that took place in 2017, and the wicked way the perpetrators planned on getting away with the crime. If you are intrigued by this case and want to know where the murderers are today, we have got you covered.

How Did Jeffrey Franklin Die?

Jeffrey Franklin, 16, was adopted when he was 11-years-old by a Guilford couple after they could not have their own child. For Jeffrey, the adoption was a godsend as he was deaf and living with autism. Still, the teen was full of life and was extremely fond of his new parents. The adoption changed his troubled childhood, and for once, the teen could dream of a better future. However, the happiness was not to last as Jeffrey fell victim to a sinister plot that claimed his budding life.

On March 1, 2017, firefighters were alerted to a house fire in Guilford. The double-wide trailer on State Highway 8 was engulfed in flames by the time the firefighters reached the scene. Outside they found a couple who initially did not talk about a human being trapped inside. However, when firefighters explicitly asked them about casualties, they mentioned their son who had disabilities, Jeffrey. The firemen fought long and hard against the flames before they were able to rescue the deceased boy’s remains.

The police initially believed that the boy had died from the fire, but the autopsy told a different story. According to the autopsy, Jeffrey’s lungs bore no signs of being exposed to fire. There were no traces of smoke or soot in his lungs, which indicated that it was not the fire that killed him. The medical examiners even believed that Jeffrey was long gone before the fire started, and thus the firemen’s delay in getting to the boy played no part in his demise.

Who Killed Jeffrey Franklin?

Jeffrey Franklin’s adoptive parents, Ernest and Heather Franklin, were found guilty of Jeffrey’s murder. According to Facebook posts, Ernest and Heather were not happy with their adopted child and often complained about his behavior. The firemen who initially responded to the fire also told authorities how the parents seemed unconcerned about Jeffrey and instead focused on their pet animals stuck inside. It was only after the firemen pressed them that Ernest and Heather told them about Jeffrey.