Teen Claims Adoptive Parents Made Her Wear a Shock Collar & Locked Her in a Chicken Coop
- Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:33am by
Billy Hallowell
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BUTLER, Ga. (The Blaze/AP) — A Georgia girl told investigators she spent days at a time locked inside a small outhouse and a chicken coop, and had to wear a shock collar because she didn’t do her school work, authorities said Thursday. These shocking claims paint a horrific, yet currently unsubstantiated, picture.
The 15-year-old girl’s parents, Samuel and Diana Franklin, were arrested earlier this week on multiple counts of child cruelty and false imprisonment. They were released on bond, and declined to comment as they left the courthouse Thursday for what appeared to be a custody hearing.
“I’ve never seen anything like this personally,” said Special Agent Wayne Smith of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “If the allegations prove to be true, it’s a very severe case.”
Diane Franklin is seen in an undated photo provided by the Taylor County, Ga.,Sheriffs Office. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says Samuel and Diana Franklin of Butler were charged Tuesday, July 10, 2012 with multiple counts of child cruelty and false imprisonment. (AP Photo/Taylor County Sheriff Office )
The girl was adopted around 2007 and home-schooled in a house outside the small town of Butler, about 85 miles south of Atlanta, according to Smith. The Franklins live on a rural stretch of road sprinkled with a few homes and cow pastures.
The house is surrounded by a split-rail fence with prominent “no trespassing” signs at the entrance of the driveway.
The girl told investigators she spent up to six days at a time in the small buildings in the back of the property as punishment for such things as failing to complete her school assignments, Smith said. She said she had been put in the buildings for at least the past two years.
The outhouse was about 4 feet in length and width, and just a few feet high, Smith said.
“It was just big enough to sit in,” Smith said.
The red chicken coop was much larger than the outhouse and chickens were being kept there Thursday.
The girl “might come out during the day a little bit, come in and shower,” Smith said.
A neighbor refused to speak with an Associated Press reporter and told him to leave the property.
The investigation began May 25, when child welfare agents, acting on a tip, visited the home with the sheriff’s department. That same day, Juvenile Court Judge Wayne Jernigan Sr. ordered the teen removed from the home.
Smith said he believed the Franklins were in court Thursday for a custody hearing. He was not aware of the outcome, and court officials refused to answer questions about the hearing.
On Tuesday, when the parents were taken into custody, investigators found a dog collar on a table in the home, Smith said. The girl told investigators its shock function was operated by a radio signal with a device similar to those used to lock and unlock cars remotely. It was being examined at a crime lab.
The girl lived at the home with another sibling, while two other siblings are older and lived away from home. The charges involve only the 15-year-old girl, Smith said, and there are no allegations of abuse involving the other three children.
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Family and Children’s Services said state law prevented her from answering questions about the case.
After the girl was removed from the house, Smith said she began to open up to investigators.
“Kind of what has happened is within a few hours of being taken out of that environment, a lot of this began to flow very freely,” Smith said. “You almost have to remove the person from the threat of punishment before they begin to open up to you. That’s normal, and that’s what has happened here.”
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MrKnowItAll
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:39pmI’m a Georgia Boy….Some people say Why and some people say Why Not!
Report Post »battles
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 4:25pmThank God this wasn’t in Waco. The cops would have shown up and burned the chicken coop down on top of her.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 3:19pmMaybe these people will adopt Piven, Pelosi, Neopolitano, Obama, Holder, Jarrett, Ayers, Jones, Franken, Rom Emmauel, and a few more out of D.C. These are of the same spirit as their adoptive parents would be.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:59pmA dog-shock collar! I hope that is not a hint on how the poor girl looks!
Report Post »thomas
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:06pmdumb ass
Report Post »scruffycat
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:14pmBrock, brock brock brock…
Report Post »Back To Reality
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:43amI was expecting the deputy to say, “life is like a box of chocolates…”
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:21pmRofl
Report Post »ai4px
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:22amIt wouldn’t be the first time a teenager made up a fantastic story, but then again it wouldn’t be the first time parents did strange stuff to kids. I personally know a girl (now grown up after these years) who falsely accused man of molesting her. She put the man through hell simply because she was mad at him. And when it was all settled, there was no punishment for her false charge but his reputation will always be in doubt.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:35amThere was a female Marine in my unit that slept with a guy and the next day decided she regretted it so she said he date raped her. She kept this story going until she found out the trial would keep her in japan (where we were stationed) an extra 2 months so she dropped the charges. We all knew she was “easy” and never believed the date rape story. I just find it sad that she was ready to destroy this guys life because she changed her mind after sobering up. Oh yeah, women in general really suck
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:41amthey are something fishy about this whole story to me , we may be dealing with a lying female teenager here but time will tell
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:21amIncidents such as this should not be reported upon until a thorough investigation is done or we end up with yet another Travon Martin fiasco. The court of public opinion is quick to jump to conclusions, especially when a child is involved, and condemn and execute the accused on hear-say before the trial and even before the evidence is gathered. Look at the Zimm man: his life is over whether or not he is found “guilty” for defending himself. Thanks for NOTHING, media.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:20am.
Report Post »Sounds like a stunt from a Jackass Movie…..
Darla_K
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:49amI am wondering who the tipster was and what did they see or hear? I suspect maybe another child who lived at the house. If these allegations are true this is serious, although there is alot of youngsters today that do not want to follow the rules. Good luck in sorting this out.
Report Post »9111315
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:32amMaybe the girl should have done her school work.
Report Post »florida123
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:16amIf they used a shock collar on this kid they need to be in jail!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:08amThe Collar attached to a Lie Detector should be worn by all Politicians!
Report Post »kcares
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:37amLukerw: Good one!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:08amBetter use some heavy duty batteries for Obama, he would drain a normal battery in a day.
Report Post »JohnHW
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:52amWhat do you mean a day – more likely one speech!!!!
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:39amI’d actually be excited when he starts stuttering and stammering.
Report Post »scrudge
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 3:10pm100% in agreement
Report Post »bdandsl
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:57am“If the allegations prove to be true, it’s a very severe case.”
Maybe the cops should find out if the allegations are true before an arrest.
Report Post »Lothmar
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:05pmSounds like someone isn’t a fan of putting the cart before the horse… for shame. ~chuckle~
Report Post »kcares
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:54amI don’t think this should be a news story until the parents are found guilty of the crime. Sounds like a Travon Martin want to be. Maybe she should do her homework.
Report Post »tommyg524
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:49amthis short of treatment should only be for……umm…the little snots on that bus with the bus monitor abuse?? Yeah, yeah thats it!
Report Post »historyguy48
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:40amComrades there is something somewhat fishy about this story. This sounds more like a spoiled brat that knows how the foster parenting system works and is using the system to destroy people trying to help her.
Report Post »MOLLYPITCHER
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:50amCould be History Guy. I’ve met kids in the foster system exactly like that. One was living under her grandparent’s care and actually went to DHS and claimed she was abused because her grandma spanked her for playing in the road. Hard to know whats going on without all of the facts.
Report Post »MrNairb
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:52amAnd you got that from this story? There is certainly not enough information to make a determination like that.
Report Post »flrepublican
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:41amYou must not know anyone in Georgia…doesn’t sound far fetched to me at all.
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