Law firm says social workers failed to prevent starvation, death of Karreon Franks

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.

A law firm said it intends to file a civil suit against the Washington Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) and Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) for failing to investigate the household.

Davis Law Group claims the state’s social workers assigned to the complaints never talked to Karreon, even during a visit shortly before he died the day after Thanksgiving in 2020 in a Vancouver hospital. Records show he was 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 61 pounds.