Franklin Elmore Jr., aged 29, has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for the murder of his six-year-old son. Despite his plea for leniency, the judge remained firm, stating that Elmore had fatally beaten his son. Initially, Elmore falsely claimed that his son had caused his own fatal injuries, but his deceit was quickly exposed, leading to murder charges against both him and his wife, Cheyenne Elmore, aged 27.
On the night of August 3, 2025, the Elmores, residing in Louisiana, contacted 911, reporting that Justin was unresponsive. Justin was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries including a traumatic brain bleed and a punctured lung. Medical professionals disputed Elmore’s claims that Justin had self-inflicted his injuries, and tragically, Justin passed away in the hospital, resulting in the arrest of the Elmores on August 8 on murder charges.
Further investigation revealed that Justin had been subjected to extreme forms of punishment, witnessed by their neighbors, including intense exercises like jumping rope, lifting weights, and running. Prosecutors disclosed that on the day Justin was hospitalized, he was forced to run 3.5 miles for about 90 minutes before being fatally beaten in his playroom.
Elmore eventually admitted guilt through a plea agreement just before his trial. During the hearing, he confessed to knowingly causing the death of his son and acknowledged that his disciplinary actions were far from normal parenting practices. Justin’s biological mother, Miranda McBride, expressed satisfaction with the sentencing outcome, stating that while she had hoped for a harsher penalty, she believed justice had been served.
Elmore received a total sentence of 55 years plus an additional 10 years for aggravated offenses. His wife’s sentencing is scheduled for this month.