Examiner’s office: Vancouver boy, 15, died of starvation, neglect

By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Assistant Metro Editor

A 15-year-old Vancouver boy died of starvation and neglect, according to the county medical examiner.

Vancouver police have been investigating the circumstances since the boy died at a local hospital Nov. 27. No arrests or criminal accusations have been made in the case thus far.

On Monday, the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the death of Karreon R. Franks has been ruled a homicide. The boy’s death had been announced by the medical examiner in February, but at that time the manner and cause of death had not been determined.

Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp previously told The Columbian that police are investigating a death with suspicious circumstances related to the February report. Police have been investigating since the case was reported to them on Dec. 1.

“We were notified by the hospital and medical examiner that a 15-year-old patient had died. We opened an investigation,” Kapp said in an email Feb. 23. Police have not released any details of the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing.