A father convicted of killing his six-year-old son resorted to deceit in a failed attempt to hide his crime. Franklin Elmore Jr., 29, has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for the murder of his son. Despite pleading for leniency, the judge remained resolute, stating that Elmore had fatally beaten his own child.
Initially, Elmore tried to shift blame by claiming that his son, Justin Elmore, had caused his own fatal injuries. However, this falsehood quickly crumbled, leading to murder charges against both him and his wife, Cheyenne Elmore, 27. Cheyenne initially denied the murder charges but later changed her plea to guilty. She is set to be sentenced in January.
On the night of August 3, 2025, the Elmores, residing in Louisiana, contacted 911 reporting Justin as “unresponsive.” Justin was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries, including a traumatic brain bleed and a punctured lung.
Medical professionals dismissed Elmore’s assertion that Justin’s injuries were self-inflicted. Tragically, Justin succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, resulting in the immediate arrest of the Elmores on murder charges.
Further investigation revealed the extreme abuse Justin endured, including rigorous physical exercises like jumping rope, weight-holding, and running, inflicted by his father and stepmother. Prosecutors disclosed that on the day Justin was hospitalized, he was forced to run 3.5 miles for 90 minutes before being fatally beaten in his playroom.
Elmore opted for a plea deal before his trial, admitting to the murder during court proceedings. He acknowledged physically harming his son, claiming he did not intend for the consequences. Justin’s biological mother had previously attempted to raise concerns about his treatment but was reportedly dismissed due to lack of visible injuries. However, evidence from the Elmores’ phones revealed images of Justin with bruises and other wounds.
Following sentencing, Justin’s mother expressed some satisfaction with the outcome, though she wished for a harsher punishment. Elmore was sentenced to 55 years plus an additional 10 years for aggravated offenses, while his wife’s sentencing is pending this month.