Washington couple arrested in starvation death of child

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The adoptive parents of a 15-year-old Vancouver, Washington boy who died from starvation in November were arrested Friday in Stockton, California.

Felicia Adams-Franks, 52, and Jesse Costillo Franks, 56, will be extradited to Clark County to appear on second-degree murder and homicide by abuse charges, The Columbian reported.

A warrant was issued for their arrests on May 28, according to the Vancouver Police Department.

Adams-Franks legally adopted Karreon Franks and his two brothers in 2012 in California. She is their aunt, court records show.

Karreon reportedly had a rare genetic disorder that affected his development, had severe autism and was legally blind, according to court records.

On Nov. 27, Adams and Franks took Karreon Franks to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, where he was pronounced dead 14 minutes later.

Funeral home staff reported “concerns with Karreon’s appearance,” and the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office responded and conducted an autopsy, a search warrant affidavit said.

Adams-Franks told the medical examiner’s office that Karreon’s brothers were giving him a bath Nov. 27 and that Karreon became unresponsive, the probable cause affidavit states.

The autopsy report, which authorities received in May, found Karreon weighed 61 pounds and showed abnormal bone and hair growth, as well as lesions, likely caused by starvation, court records state.

A hospital nurse had contacted Child Protective Services when the teen arrived. Karreon’s brothers were taken into protective custody the following day, according to the probable cause affidavit.

It wasn’t immediately known if the couple has a lawyer to comment for them.

©2021 Cox Media Group