Home > Abuse > Child Abuse > Couple Accused Of Forcing Teen Girl To Live In Chicken Coop, Wear Shock Collar

Couple Accused Of Forcing Teen Girl To Live In Chicken Coop, Wear Shock Collar

July 12, 2012 at 12:22 pm by Morbid

BUTLER, GA - I was going to post about the 15-year-old foster teen allegedly forced to live in a chicken coop when the story first broke, but I didn’t for some reason. But the story has resurfaced after her parents were arrested and it was revealed that the 15-year-old girl was also forced her to wear a a shock collar for dogs.

If any of you missed this story when it first made the rounds back in May, police were alerted to the the girl’s living conditions after someone called them to report the girl was being forced to live outside in a chicken coop. The girl was taken into state custody but her adoptive parents, Diana Franklin and Samuel Franklin would not be arrested until Tuesday.

Diana was charged with 12 counts of cruelty to children and 4 counts of false imprisonment, while Samuel was charged with 8 counts of cruelty to children and 8 counts of false imprisonment.

The girl had informed police that her parents placed the collar around her neck and used it on her several times by anyone in possession of a remote key fob that controlled the collar. This was just one of several punishments used on the girl for various offenses.

“The child basically said that there were just a series of fairly severe, what can be described as punishments, for various things that the child allegedly did, some as simple as not doing homework and then others like taking food,” said GBI’s Wayne Smith.

Police didn’t find the collar the first time they searched the Franklin’s home, just a receipt from when it was purchased, but after Diana and Samuel were arrested police searched again and found the collar inside the home. It matched the girl’s description and has been sent to the state crime lab for DNA testing.

After police got involved, neighbors came forward to say that they witnessed the girl being forced to perform various types of manual labor in the hot son.

“I’ve seen her out working in the gardens, digging ditches in the hot sun with two or three older boys watching her,” neighbor Steven Balis said. “I’ve seen her toting rocks up the road – she looked like she was in rough shape.”

Another neighbor, David Spillers, said he has also witnessed the similar activity.

“I saw her when she was out in the yard working in that garden out there and I saw her around picking up trash in the yard,” Spillers said.

Yet another neighbor said that Diana admitted to feeding the girl bread and water for days as punishment for not doing chores and working the “right way.” She also said that Diana told her she was only doing ”what the Bible says.”

WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather

Tags: chicken coop, Child Abuse, Crime, Diana Franklin, Georgia, Samuel Franklin, shock collar

97 Comments

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newstarshipsmell

*struggles to recall which book in the Bible covered canine shock collars*
CT

“forced to perform various types of manual labor in the hot son.” Did I or did I not tell you to stay away from her, son.
CT

Why does it seem to be the chicks with double chins that decide to withhold food from others?
Wolf_of_Mars

These douchebags are another fine example of what happens when people forget that reading is fundamental. If they’d have actually read the Bible, they’d know how wrong they were in their treatment of this child. No matter what they, or others say; these odious piss-ants weren’t “Christians,” they’re just child abusers.
http://akemi-mokoto.me/ Akemi Mokoto

What the fuck is wrong with people?
derae

Why do people like this foster kids? How do these types of people pass screenings? I’m not familiar with what it takes to become a foster parent, but obviously the state of Georgia needs to find a better way. No child should have to suffer like this. Now we can add another fucked-up person to the population because more than likely, this poor girl will have emotional scares from this that will never fully heal. I only hope that she can turn this experience into something that will make her stronger and not become another victim that eventually creates another victim down the road. So sad.
LeaveMeBe

Lamentations
http://twitter.com/madkins66 Evonne

Dear God,
Please save us from your followers.
Love, Real humans.
CT

That got a “little too loud for work” laugh out of me.
Valerie

Several things:
1) Why does no one ever do anything when they witness/are told about these things? They’ll all pop up on the news to talk about how they saw or were told what was going on and how happy they are that the kids are out of the situation, but none of those stupid, lazy fuckers lifts a finger to help out or make a call.
2) After the expense of adopting a child, why mistreat them? If you have worked so hard to get a child, what is the point of treating it like crap? Obviously these people have a deep rooted need to control another life, so they prey upon an adopted child when they can’t have their own?
3)OOPS, the running joke in my house is to sneak up and shock each other with the shock collar. It’s triggered by vibration, so you have to rub it against the floor or wall to trigger the shock. My almost 12 year old son runs when he hears it lmao, but he has gotten me several times with it as well. That first level of shock is only about as powerful as static.
I went through all six levels though before I used it on the dog. I wanted to be sure it wasn’t too painful. The sixth level feels about like being jabbed with a needle. The dog never went past level two though and it is no longer necessary.
UniqueMommy1984

She wasn’t adopted by them she was in foster care.
UniqueMommy1984

I’m trying to figure that one out myself. What’s even more sad are the kids that are taken away because family services think they are in “danger” only to end up being killed in foster care.
UniqueMommy1984

My guess is jealousy maybe.
JohnQknowitall

Sounds more like slavery to me and how the fu*k did the neighbors, teachers, other children in the neighborhood, etcetera allow this to go unreported for so long. Perhaps the situation had recently become dire, but some how I doubt this being something new. I would steel food if I were fed bread and water for days and my punishment for not doing homework was listening to my mother bitch until I couldn’t stand it.

(Morbid your spelling and writing are always impecable, but, fyi, today you used “son” instead of “sun.”)
JohnQknowitall

Double like.
JohnQknowitall

Money.
derae

Unfortunately I know you are right.
Valerie

Oh, I was confused. At first it called her a foster teen, then called them her adoptive parents. I just figured she was one of the kids that was fostered, then adopted. Anyway, why the hell be foster parents? I was in foster care and I know they did not make money off of us.
tinalib13

Don’t forget slave labor John.
CT

NO!! It ruins my joke.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Stacey-McLaughlin/1611735600 Stacey McLaughlin

While I understand that what they did was horrible. My kids are forced to pick up the yard, and when their mouths become disrespectful, they do yard work, rake leaves, pick up trash, mow the lawn, weed the garden. When my 11 yr old told me she that I was a horrible mom for making her redo her dirty dishes (she had just washed them with water, and they were nasty) She spent the next hour with me, walking up and down our road picking up trash in the ditch. She now does dishes the right way. If someone thinks that making your children do yard work, or pick up trash is child abuse, then I am guilty of it. Granted, teh chicken coop and shock collar, are indeed just evil. And I am sure she spent all day everyday with no food/water or little food/water doing labor like chain gangs. But in my house, I’d rather make my children weed my flower bed for mouthing, and if they mouth again, we go to the neighbors yard, and I stand there and manage as they do their yard chores also. After a day or two of manual labor they think before they mouth.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Trisha-Doran/1055147616 Trisha Doran

Exactly. I would like her to point out where in the Bible it says to abuse your kids, feed them only bread and water and shock them like dogs! Oh and let them live in a chicken coop. And shame on the neighbors too – “oh yeah, I seen her working in the hot sun all day blah blah blah.” Eff you too.
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

The articles switched back and forth. I assumed she was a foster kid that was later adopted. One commenter stated she has been with the family since she was 11-years-old, but I didn’t find that in a published article — I didn’t look to hard, either.
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

I’ll leave it there, just for you. Thanks for the heads-up, John.
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

Hey now!
CT

Ah, aren’t you sweet.
taaurrus taaurrus

JohnQknowitall – Normally, I wouldn’t point out someone’s misspelled words and/or words used incorrectly, as I am about to do now, but if a person (you) is going to correct someone’s (Morbid’s) spelling – that person (you) should really make sure that they are not misspelling any words and/or misusing words themselves. Example: YOU used “steel”, as in metal or iron, instead of “steal” which means taking without permission, in this sentence: “I would steel food if I were fed bread and water…” I take it from your name (JohnQknowitall) that you think that you “know it all” so you really should have known that one (you) should always double check their own posts for spelling errors or misuses of words before they publically correct someone else.
https://twitter.com/#!/AngelsMom0806 Angels Mom

John your spelling and writing are always impeccable, but, fyi, today you used “impecable” instead of “impeccable” and “steel” instead of “steal.”
tinalib13

My son also does yard work, dishes and takes out the trash. He also helps with the laundry and house cleaning. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having your kids help out. If anything it teaches them responsibility and how to take care of themselves. We feed and clothe our kids too. That’s not abuse. It’s damn good parenting. Kudos to you for being a great parent!
tinalib13

Everytime someone asks this question I think of the Door’s song “People are Strange”. I don’t know why.
The_Yeti_Knows

Don’t forget the bible had Caine stabbing Abel, Adam and Eve wet humping in the swamp with a snake cheering them on, Dudes on some bad acid convinced they’re parting entire seas, The devil stalking everyone and calling them everything from fat to dirt worshipping poor and to top it all off half eaten apples and really bad ribs on the menu, no wonder we’re all fucked up.
Athena

There’s nothing wrong with using manual labor as a disciplinary tactic. In fact, it’s one of my preferred measures. It can get wrong real quick, though, if that labor is impacting a child’s physical health.
Athena

Right? The Bible just tells parents to beat their children with a rod, often and hard.
But, yeah… too little, too late from the neighbors.
Athena

…and that they think they’re parenting the “right” way, and that the rest of us are just a bunch of pussies.
The_Yeti_Knows

When I was little maw and paw used to send me on down to the Hansons Mill to pick up their powders n such.. Back then we weren’t to good to spend 11 hours on donkey back to fetch three barrels of good ‘ol Kentucky sour mash and 21 pounds of that copperhead road tabaccy.. Paw said if’n I got caught he’d skin me good.
JohnQknowitall

Somebody voted me down because they disagree with me or mean or drinking since they woke up this morning?
JohnQknowitall

Believe me I do not brag that I am perfect. It wasn’t a jab, but I will learn not to be helpful especially after the down mark. Just assumed that since the article was going to be archived he would want it to be as perfect as possible. Sorry.

And I am giving you an up mark.
Clayton Knudsen

Oh that is in the bible right after the “treat younguns like livestock” and before “have the boys do with you what thay will”.
Clayton Knudsen

Can I give you 1000 “up votes?”
Clayton Knudsen

I AGREE COMPLETELY. Like P.O. having to get tazed before issued a taser.
newstarshipsmell

Great Old Ones,
Please save the fundies for dessert.
Fear and confusion, tarsh.
newstarshipsmell

“Steel” food? Are you on board with @DangerousKindOfSnark and me to upload into robot bodies when it’s time to eliminate the humans?

Speaking of Snark, she sure is taking a long-ass vacation.
Castille

I assumed that because the authorities had gotten involved, that the neighbors *did* get involved and make calls. Only, when there’s food in the house, the child is generally supervised and doesn’t look obviously beaten up, do you know how many people have to call how many times? It can take time in a case like this and you just have to keep at it. Hell, for one of my young friends I had to enlist everyone else I knew that also knew him to harass social services on his account (on a variety of neglect issues,) and he was living without any source of heat in the middle of an icy winter.
https://twitter.com/#!/AngelsMom0806 Angels Mom

I was just busting your chops. The correction didn’t bother me, I just saw an opening to be a smartass. Lol! I gave you an up mark as well.
bored_stiff

They need that food for themselves to feed the double chins.
https://twitter.com/#!/AngelsMom0806 Angels Mom

She said that she’d be gone a long time. We certainly can’t call her a liar.
Castille

Gives ya pause before you go calling social services, doesn’t it?
UniqueMommy1984

I understand what you are saying Stacey but there is a big difference here. The girl was force to live in a chicken coop and had a shock collar put around her neck. No telling what else happen that isn’t being reported. Believe me I agree with putting them to work when they want to be little butt-heads but parents got to draw a line some where. These people clearly didn’t.
UniqueMommy1984

Ahh, I see. I noticed that after I re-read the article.
UniqueMommy1984

Yeah it does. Had to threaten my younger brother’s wife that if things didn’t change in their household I was going to have to call. My dad kept bringing drugs and hookers in the trailer they live in. They finally kicked my dad out and so far that shit has stopped. Knowing my brother he’s still pulling stupid shit, I just haven’t heard about it. My niece also recently got taken away from my older sister over some crazy bullshit (not even sure if I was told the whole story honestly). I went through a whole bunch of stuff because they were talking about sending her here but my sister was able to get her back. I just hope my sister keeps her shit straight because if my niece ends up getting taken away again and comes here. I’ll fight to keep her here. Might sound mean but that isn’t right to do to a child. She already had her older two kids taken away from her and I hate to do it but I want to do what is best for my niece.
JGo555

They always seem to forget other parts of the bible like: “LOVE THY NEIGHBOR” and shit like that. Ya’ll know, where you don’t do something to someone because IT’S THE NICE RIGHT THING TO DO and because you wouldn’t like it if they did it to you.
JGo555

You are wise.
newstarshipsmell

Doesn’t sound mean – sounds like you love your niece, and care about her well-being, more than your sister does.
EveryVillainIsLemons

Where?
The_Yeti_Knows

None of this goin’ on in Japan I can tell you that, they’re all too busy hoping to die for their emperor or some shit.
http://akemi-mokoto.me/ Akemi Mokoto

Completely baseless calm and totally irrelevant to anything in this article. My god, why are so many people I piss off obsessed with me afterwards? -_-;
The_Yeti_Knows

Tag you’re it Mr Moto… I thought you fish eaters could laugh at yourselves … I mean by joining the rest of us anyway … You have no clue how to relax do you ?
http://akemi-mokoto.me/ Akemi Mokoto

If you had any idea what kinda idiots I encountered this week in this site, you’d understand my zero tolerance for anything that even comes off as stupid. If you are joking(and I am not trolling when I say this, I am only giving what you gave me) then:

No, not really. I can’t find myself to dumb down my humor to america’s poor standards. Sorry if that angers anybody.
The_Yeti_Knows

What makes you happy then.. Karaoke ? You should type out ….” Don’t go breakin my heart ” a few times and get back to us, maybe someone will care.
http://akemi-mokoto.me/ Akemi Mokoto

I can tell you want doesn’t make me happy: Eating myself into oblivion and then hoping on my high horse and telling the world how great my country in despite the failing educational system, failing government, failing economy, growing(in body size) people, and increasing civil unrest. I’d include an increase in crime but the facts are it is decreasing(yet still high).

America: The land of the free(highest incarceration rate on earth) and home of the brave(0.5% of US citizens are in the military). Wanna keep on going keyboard warrior? >:
The_Yeti_Knows

Miyagi number one good philosopher super fun happy guy…. If ever you need rescue from communist horde, maybe ask Fiji instead.
http://akemi-mokoto.me/ Akemi Mokoto

( ´?`)y??~~ Alright you got nothing, do you cupcake? Didn’t think so. Now I wait for more people to come or the mod to remove the off topic replies.
newstarshipsmell

I ask myself the same thing nearly every time you post.
JohnQknowitall

Yes. Someone else pointed this out before you and I responded.
blubberdong

You’ve insulted America. You shouldn’t be surprised that you’re a hated traitor around here. Personally, after viewing your spew, I’m just thankful I don’t have to see or hear you at family gatherings. That’s all you’ll get out of me, kamikaze twat.
LilHoney

Oooo! I want a robot body!! First do We get to pick them? Next can We ‘play with them first? Hehehe
lespacino

Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 23:13-14, Proverbs 29:15…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=23422362 Robin Camille

I gave ya’ll both upmarks cause this conversation cracked me up!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=23422362 Robin Camille

this guy sounds real hung up on it. It was all in fun..
The_Yeti_Knows

I haven’t decided if you’re a lazy-eyed halfwit shut-in , or a cross dressing basement dwelling dog walker. Either way…. I think the forum for you is ” Creamin’ Steamin” not dreamin Demon…. I suppose you took a wrong turn Hello Kitty.
CT

I always up vote drinking. BAM, up vote.
CT

@The_Yeti_Knows:disqus – I have to say at first I wasn’t too sure of you and your hairy self but now I think I may be falling in love with you.
LeaveMeBe

Well thanks for getting that stuck in my head.
LeaveMeBe

AH! Can’t find yourself? So this is a journey of sorts to find yourself. That explains a lot.
The_Yeti_Knows

It’s my gift, besides sadly at some point long ago I’m sure even the cabbage smelling rice eater had some sort of a mother that loved him….. It’s slightly true even for manky desert floor scurrying stink reptiles…. jk Akemi…. maybe it’s all the Radiation your brilliant scientists allowed to leech into everything last year. and don’t blame mother nature either, anyone with an ounce of common sense would know enough to elevate their back-up generators above potential tsunami water levels.
LeaveMeBe

I will say this, two of my sons serve in the United States Army and I have a daughter that is enlisting as well as a husband and a BIL who served. Those are just the last two generations. I have many uncles and cousins who served also. So the fact that you come on here and bash MY country makes me take it very personally. On the flip side, they serve to preserve our freedoms which include you being able to pretty much say and do what you want, so carry on.
LeaveMeBe

Sad, but so true.
newstarshipsmell

I can offer some replacement suggestions…
blubberdong

Once, during a period of personal crisis, I found myself while blindly reaching down in the shower.
LeaveMeBe

Sometimes you leave me speechless…
LeaveMeBe

Why not? Then I’ll have an entire playlist.
newstarshipsmell

I ought to know better than to bluff you by now.
LeaveMeBe

Word Up.
blubberdong

I would never leave you, LeaveMe.
tinalib13

I aim to please LMB! Btw, I sang that damn song all night after I posted that.
Heather_Habilatory

We should print bibles that tell people “If you ever get the feeling where you want to abuse another living being, killeth yourselfeth. So sayeth the Lord.” This would solve about 80% of all the world’s problems.

Getting rid of bath salts would probably clear up 15%
https://twitter.com/#!/AngelsMom0806 Angels Mom

and don’t forget the greatest passage…”Thee must fight, for thine right, to party.” It’s in the book of Beastieboyeius
Athena

Indeed. “Often” is debatable (but is inferred by the frequency of the mandate, in my opinion). “Hard” is not, however, as Proverbs 20:30 states, “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly,” in other words, “bruise that child”.
?????????

Pick them? You get to build them. And if by “play with them” you mean “shoot laserbeams and kill humans” the answer is “Yes.”
onlyme356

Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him
with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from
death. The child who disobeys will live as an animal, corraled and caged as foul and fed crumbs. A disobedient child must be sent electrical impulses to the head and body. Punish your children for God will be pleased and all who follow God’s word will not perish but enter the kingdom of heaven.

…What? Isn’t that how it goes?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1415881786 Tori Sheffer

the bible is very controversial in its
passages … but if i ever say where it said anything about
punishment via shock collar or chicken coop..im becoming and athiest..
LeaveMeBe

You sloppy romantic, you.
LeaveMeBe

Just all night? Damn woman, I was still singing it this morning!
TheGuest420

I can pick out a few verses in the bible to use on her.
http://www.facebook.com/Donnamariebradfield Donna Bradfield

How neighborly of them all to speak up in hindsight.
Marie Brown

Neighbors NOW come forward to report these things?? WTH is wrong with people that they see this type stuff going on and never open their mouths till after the fact? I just do not get why people are so self absorbed these days.
My prayers go out to that youngster and i pray she gets some trauma counseling to help her deal with this
http://www.facebook.com/Leashaness Alicia Lynee’

Gotta love the asshole neighbors who WITNESSED her abuse yet said nothing until the story made news. Why aren’t those pricks ever charged? They are JUST as responsible for her torture as her “parents”!