An 11-year-old boy was beaten, tortured, and sexually assaulted by his mother, Jennifer Renee Franklin, and her boyfriend, Randell Howell (pictured). The boy was homeschooled.
The boy previously lived with Franklin and his biological father; Howell began living with them after the death of the boy’s father. Howell regularly beat the boy, leaving him covered with bruises, while Franklin laughed. Franklin claimed her health problems prevented her from disciplining the boy herself. The boy was given only one meal a day and Franklin took away most of his clothes. The boy was forced to clean the toilet with his personal toothbrush, and Franklin sexually assaulted the boy, ordering him not to tell anyone. She pulled him out of school to homeschool him, claiming it was due to his problems in the classroom, but the boy told investigators he was homeschooled to prevent teachers from noticing his bruises and keep him from reporting the abuse to them.
The abuse came to light when the boy escaped and ran to the home of a neighbor, who called the authorities. Franklin was charged with sexual battery and child cruelty. Howell was charged with child cruelty.
Date: August 4, 2018
Location: Key Largo, Florida
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