How Could You? Hall of Shame-Karreon Franks case-Child Death UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Vancouver, Washington, adoptee Karreon Franks, 15, died on November 27, 2020.

Adoptive parents “Jesse Costillo Franks, 56, and Felicia Adams-Franks, 52, are facing second-degree murder and homicide by abuse charges. They will be extradited to Clark County, Washington, The Columbian reported.

The Vancouver Police Department issued warrants for their arrests on May 28. The warrants stated that they allegedly abused and caused the death of Karreon Franks, who was 70 pounds when he died from starvation and neglect in November 2020, KPTV reported.

According to court records, Adams-Franks was the 15-year-old’s aunt, and she had legally adopted him as well as his two brothers in 2012 in California. Karreon reportedly had a rare genetic disorder that affected his development, had severe autism, was legally blind and was unable to speak, court records stated.

Authorities found that the 15-year-old and his two younger brothers were allegedly severely neglected and malnourished by Franks and Adams-Franks, The Oregonian reported.

On Nov. 27, 2020, Adams-Franks brought Karreon to a hospital in Washington where he died 14 minutes after he was admitted. Initially, the cause of death was said to be pneumonia. However, when the body of the teen was brought to a funeral home, staff raised “concerns with his appearance,” according to the report. This led to police launching an investigation.

In April, a medical examiner ruled that Karreon died of starvation.

According to court records, Franks and Adams-Franks allegedly neglected all of their children for years and denied them food as punishment. Karreon reportedly looked like a “walking skeleton,” according to a social worker, when a review was conducted on the family home a week before he died.

The teen’s aunt, who was the kids’ biological mother, allegedly tipped Washington state child welfare agencies about the state of the children while they were living with the couple. She claimed that her sister purposely starved Karreon and the two other boys, The Oregonian reported.

Neighbors also shared their recollections of Karreon. One person, who refused to be named, told KOIN 6 that the 15-year-old appeared to be just “begging for water” when he first met the teen.”

“Give him some water, that’s what I said, and the kids were like, ‘No we can’t give him water he’ll pee his pants and then we’ll get in trouble,’” the neighbor said. “And I said f–k that and I came in the house, got a bottle of water and gave him a bottle of water.”

Adams-Franks and Franks allegedly hit a casino just hours after Karreon passed away, The Oregonian reported. A look at police records showed that the couple has lost about $280,000 so far due to gambling.”

Parents Arrested In Starvation Death Of 15-Year-Old Adopted Son Who Had Autism
[International Business Times 6/6/21 by Joseph Patrick]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: According to the Washington court case records search, Felicia’s and Jesse’s trial are on  January 24, 2022.

Update 1: “The jury selection began Monday in the trial of a Vancouver couple accused of abusing their adopted teenage son, including starving him to death.

The Clark County medical examiner said 15-year-old Karreon Franks died in November of 2020 from starvation and neglect. His adoptive parents, Jesse Franks and Felicia Adams-Franks were charged with murder and homicide by abuse.

They both pleaded not guilty. The jury selection is expected to continue into Tuesday.”
Vancouver couple pleads not guilty to adopted son’s death
[KPTV 10/17/23]

Update 2:“A Vancouver couple were found guilty of all charges on Friday in the starving death of their adopted teenage son.

A Clark County jury found Felicia Adams-Franks and her husband Jesse Franks each guilty of all four charges: second-degree murder – domestic violence, homicide by abuse of a child under 16, and two counts of second-degree criminal mistreatment.

The teenager, 15-year-old Karreon Franks and his brother had been in the care of their aunt, Adams-Franks and her husband, since they were adopted in 2012.

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Karreon Franks died Nov. 27, 2020 from starvation and neglect. Court records show Karreon Franks, who was autistic and partially blind, was only 61 pounds when he died.

According to court documents, teachers reported that Karreon Franks’ brother told them that Adams-Franks withheld food from them as a punishment.

Adams-Franks and Jesse Franks are scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 30.”

Couple guilty of all charges in starvation death of Clark County teen
[KPTV 10/28/23]

Update 3:“The adoptive parents convicted in the starving death of a 15-year-old boy in Washington state have been sentenced to decades in prison.

Judge Suzan Clark last week sentenced Felicia L. Adams to 35 years in prison and Jesse C. Franks to 30 years in the 2020 death of Karreon Franks. The couple also had been convicted on charges of criminal mistreatment of Karreon’s brothers, The Columbian newspaper reported.

Attorneys for Adams and Franks said they planned to appeal the convictions and sentences.”
Adoptive parents sentenced in starving death of Washington teen
[AP News 12/11/23]