Murder, abuse trial continues for adoptive parents in death of disabled Vancouver boy

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.

Prosecutors say Karreon and his brothers were accustomed to food restriction and corporal punishment in the home. But Adams and Franks’ defense attorneys say Karreon’s medical conditions were to blame for his death.

Karreon was severely developmentally delayed and autistic, to the point he was nearly nonverbal. He was also legally blind and used a cane to get around, both the defense and prosecution told the jury.

On Monday, jurors heard from a handful of witnesses, including Karreon’s brothers and the social worker who visited the home about a week before his death.