Category: Relationship: Parent

Name: Karreon Walter-Franks.
Died: November 27, 2020.
Age at death: 15.
Cause of death: Starvation, pneumonia.
Location: Vancouver, Washington, USA.
Disability: Autism, developmental delay, visually impaired.

Details:
At the time of his death, Karreon was known to the child welfare system. His aunt reported to social workers that Karreon and his siblings had been starved for years and had to steal food to survive, and that Karreon was emaciated and had collapsed from hunger. His brother told them that Karreon’s mother had hit him with a cane for throwing up. The last contact by child welfare to the home was only a week before Karreon died and the funeral home contacted police because his body weighed only 65 pounds and was in very poor condition.

After his death, Karreon’s two younger siblings were removed from the home.

Case Status:
Felicia Adams (Aunt, adoptive mother), convicted of second-degree murder and homicide by abuse, sentenced to 35 years.
Jesse Franks (Felicia’s husband), convicted of second-degree murder and homicide by abuse, sentenced to 30 years.

Source:
Karreon Franks’ adoptive parents sentenced to decades in prison for his murder
Couple Accused of Starving Blind Adoptive Son to Death Pleads Not Guilty After Turning Themselves In
Trial begins for parents accused of starving Washington teen to death
SW Washington couple deny starving 15-year-old son to death as murder trial nears end
Clark County jury convicts adoptive parents of homicide by abuse, murder in Vancouver boy’s starvation death
Adoptive parents testify in death of disabled Vancouver boy, say they never withheld food as punishment | The Spokesman-Review
Clark County jury convicts parents for starving disabled son to death
Autism Memorial: Karreon Walter-Franks
State records highlight years of suspected abuse in home where Clark County teen died
Couple arrested in Stockton appear in court on murder allegation in starvation case
Washington couple arrested in starvation death of child
Disabled 15-year-old boy dies weighing 65 pounds DAYS after CPS visits adoptive parents’ home: Reports
Parents of Vancouver teen who died from starvation face murder charges; arrest warrants issued
Washington teen’s death ruled homicide due to starvation and neglect
Police: Authorities visited starving teen days before death
Child welfare visited disabled 15-year-old boy DAYS before he died weighing only 65 pounds, court docs reveal

Name: David Almond.
Died: October 21, 2020.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Fall River, Massachusetts, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability, autism.

Details:
David and his two brothers, a set of triplets, were all neglected and abused by their father and his girlfriend. Child services was called, and the brothers spent time living outside their home; but eventually two of the boys were returned to their father. David died, malnourished and with fentanyl, a powerful opiate, in his system. His caregivers were arrested and his triplet brother and toddler half-brother were rescued.

At school, David had been a happy boy with a good sense of humor. His schoolmates described him as the “mayor” of the school. He was good at reading and took pride in this ability. He participated in school plays. He and his brothers had invented their own language to communicate between them. David liked cartoons, toys, and video games.

Case Status:
New Report Focuses on Concerns for Child Safety
John Michael Almond (Father), charged with second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled person resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless endangerment of a child, and drug possession; convicted, sentenced to 20 years to life.
Jaclyn Marie Coleman (Father’s girlfriend), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled person resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless endangerment of a child, and drug possession; sentenced to 20 years to life.

Source:
Fall River woman pleads guilty, sentenced to life in David Almond’s abuse and death
Fall River man pleads guilty in 14-year-old son’s 2020 death
Fall River man pleads guilty in teenage son’s death
State Rep. Fiola, State Senator Rodrigues host dedication ceremony for Fall River autistic teen who died of starvation, neglect
David Almond died nearly two years ago. A newly dedicated memorial grove will honor him.
Autism Memorial: David Almond
MA report: Sweeping changes made in wake of David Almond death, services for brothers monitored
‘I don’t want people to forget’: One year later, vigil will remember David Almond
Vigil planned to mark one year anniversary of death of 14-year-old Fall River autistic boy
Visible injuries, scrubbing floors with a toothbrush: Shocking details from the Almond report
DCF, School Could Have Done More to Prevent Fall River Teen’s Death: Report
Investigation into death of Mass. boy found living in filth finds ‘multi-system failure,’ serious errors from DCF
Mass. Child Advocate identifies multi-system failure prior to death of Fall River teen with special needs
Fall River couple indicted in teen’s death
Fall River couple accused in starvation death of 14-year-old autistic teen due in court Monday
Rep. Fiola calls for answers in death of autistic Fall River boy
Judge orders couple held for 120 days in death of autistic boy
Death of 14-year-old Fall River boy under investigation; couple faces neglect charges
Mass. Horror Home: Teen Dead, Brother ‘Alarmingly Emaciated,’ Prosecutors Say
Two charged with child abuse and neglect after death of autistic teen in Fall River
Father, girlfriend charged in death of special needs Fall River teen allegedly found with fentanyl in system
Death of 14-year-old boy under investigation; Evidence of drugs, neglect of teen’s brother, police say