The criminal trial for the parents accused of being responsible for the tragic death of a teen boy nearly three years ago has commenced in Vancouver, Washington.

Prosecutors allege that Felicia Adams and Jesse Franks subjected 15-year-old Karreon Franks to extreme neglect and starvation, as he weighed a mere 61 pounds when he passed away. Adams (54) and Franks (58) are facing charges of domestic violence, homicide by abuse, and second-degree murder in connection with Karreon's death in November 2020.

They also face two counts of second-degree criminal mistreatment concerning Karreon's two younger brothers. 

Attorneys for Adams and Franks have argued that Karreon's severe medical conditions, which included developmental delays and autism, contributed to his death. They pointed to digestive issues and difficulties in keeping food down, highlighting that pneumonia was initially listed as the cause of his death.

The defense attorney for Jesse Franks emphasized the tragedy of a child's death and suggested that blaming the accused parents for it may not be justified.

By Ken Brown

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A Springfield Township firefighter, who responded to John and Katherine Snyder’s home on the day of Adam Snyder’s death, testified during Day 8 of the trial on Wednesday, focusing on her demeanor when they arrived at the scene.

Lt. Matt Morgan said they were dispatched to the Snyder’s home when Katherine carried an unconscious Adam out of the house.

“Is it unusual to have someone carry carry the person out to you?” the prosecution asked Morgan.

Morgan said: “Yeah, it can be. It all depends on the circumstances.”

by: Lisa Balick, Aimee Plante

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A new lawsuit is in the works as the Vancouver trial continues for two parents accused of starving 15-year-old Karreon Franks to death nearly three years ago.

Felicia Adams-Franks and Jesse Franks are accused of withholding food and water from their adopted son while he attended school remotely in 2020. However, a law firm representing the boy and his two younger siblings says that Karreon’s death could have been prevented.

According to the Davis Law Group, an investigation revealed that an initial complaint had been made in 2017 – nearly three years before Karreon died.

Prosecutors say the children were restricted access to food and given physical punishment, but the parents’ attorneys say Karreon had medical conditions that resulted in his death.

ANDREW WOLFSON   Louisville Courier Journal

Adopted at age 2 by Louisville Police Officer Sean Jackman — who eventually rose to lieutenant — Samantha Killary later alleged that he sexually abused her throughout her childhood, stopping only when she turned 18 in 2009. 

After she secretly recorded him admitting the abuse and apologizing for it, he pleaded guilty to multiple sex offenses and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, which he is still serving. 

She also sued him as well as other defendants, namely former Officer Linda Thompson, whom Jackman dated from 2001 to 2003, and his father, former Detective Sgt. Rick Jackman. She alleged both knew of the abuse and failed to report it, as required by law.  

And Killary also sued Louisville Metro, for employing and empowering them.

By Ken Brown

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – Dr. Gretel Stephens, who formerly worked with the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office - and conducted the autopsy on 8-year-old Adam Snyder in 2016 - was the continued focus of questioning during the trial’s seventh day on Monday.

It was Stephens’s second day on the stand in the trial of John and Katherine Snyder, who are accused of killing their 8-year-old son.

Prosecutors worked to rule out other explanations for Adam Snyder’s death, while defense attorneys said other health issues were the cause, such as aspirational pneumonia.

“Based on what you reviewed at this point, do you believe the child was suffering aspirational pneumonia?”

by: Jonathon Sharp

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) — A Utah woman accused this month of child abuse — and who pleaded guilty in the death of her foster child three years ago — will remain in custody after a judge denied her bail Tuesday.

Lisa Jo Vanderlinden, 46, of Roosevelt, was arrested and charged last week with a misdemeanor count of child abuse after her 9-year-old adopted son told investigators that she struck him so hard it left a mark on his face for days.

This accusation violated her 14-year probation sentence for a 2020 conviction of child homicide in the death of her 2-year-old foster son, Lucas Call.

Grant Charles, the Roosevelt city attorney, said before the court Tuesday that the new allegations facing Vanderlinden are similar to the ones she faced with Call.

Karreon Franks died of starvation, neglect in November 2020

By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Assistant Metro Editor

The murder and abuse trial continued Monday for the adoptive parents of a 15-year-old Vancouver boy who died from starvation and neglect in November 2020.

Felicia L. Adams, 54, and Jesse C. Franks, 58, are facing domestic violence charges of homicide by abuse and second-degree murder in Karreon Frank’s death and two counts of second-degree criminal mistreatment of Karreon’s brothers, then 14 and 13 years old.

Their joint trial began Oct. 16 in Clark County Superior Court.

by Skyler Shepard

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Timothy Ferriter — the father at the center of "The Boy in the Box" case — will stay behind bars.
 

A judge decided on Monday morning that Ferriter will not be let out of jail while waiting to be sentenced.

On October 19, Ferriter's attorneys said he is able to pay a bond of $100,000, is willing to surrender his passport and wear a GPS tracking device while he’s out.

Ferriter and his attorney have been trying to get him out on house arrest after he was found guilty on charges of aggravated child abuse, child neglect and false imprisonment for locking his teenage adopted son in an eight-by-eight box.

KEVIN GRASHA   Cincinnati Enquirer

Between 2014 and 2016, John and Katherine Snyder adopted six children from China, all with serious medical problems.

Katherine Snyder’s attorney described the couple as loving parents who opened their Springfield Township home to children who were orphans.

From the outside, it all seemed perfect. But it wasn’t, prosecutors said. And less than a year after an 8-year-old boy they adopted arrived in the U.S., he was dead.

by Kayla Winn, KUTV

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A woman who previously admitted to causing the death of her 2-year-old foster son is now facing allegations of abusing her 8-year-old adopted son.

In July 2020, Lisa Jo Vanderlinden was sentenced to one year in jail, with 14 years of probation and a $10,000 fine for her prior conviction after pleading guilty.

The new charges were filed on Oct. 18 after Vanderlinden was arrested on one count of suspicion of child abuse.

Reports from the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office indicate that Vanderlinden allegedly slapped the child, leaving a visible mark for two days. Additionally, court documents suggest that the child had been struck by his adoptive father with a spatula.