GOSHEN, IN – A 29-year-old man who pleaded guilty to murdering his 6-year-old son this past summer learned his fate at a courthouse in Goshen earlier in November, with the rendered sentence leading to the victim’s mother remarking, “by the time he gets out, he'll probably be dead.”
On the evening of August 3rd, Frankin Elmore along with his wife, Cheyenne Elmore, called 911 after Frankin’s son, Justin, became unresponsive after suffering an attack at the hands of Franklin.
The 6-year-old was rushed to an area hospital where he was found to have suffered a traumatic brain bleed and a punctured lung, which the injuries proved to be fatal.
Franklin initially told hospital staff that Justin had “hit himself,” which said medical staff informed authorities that the child’s injuries were not consistent with ones of self-harm.
Police later interviewed neighbors of the couple who reportedly told authorities that the Elmores would routinely enact cruel physical punishments on the boy, including grueling forced exercises.
On the day Justin was killed, his father and stepmother, Cheyenne, apparently forced him to run over three miles prior to the fatal beating.
Franklin and Cheyenne were arrested on August 8th on charges of murder, with Franklin entering a plea of guilty this past October. On November 25th, Franklin was handed down a 65 year sentence during his sentencing hearing at the Elkhart County Courthouse.
Upon learning his sentence, Franklin reportedly asked the judge to shorten his prison sentence after apologizing before the court for his actions, telling the judge, “I want to come out as a better man. Different man. That’s all I can do.” The judge was apparently unmoved by Franklin’s request for leniency, telling the convicted child killer, “You literally beat your son to death.”
Justin’s biological mother, Miranda McBride, who resided in a different state at the time of the murder, reportedly tried to get authorities in Indiana to do something about the abuse she suspected her son was enduring prior to his death. However, McBride was reportedly told by said authorities that “they could do nothing because they didn’t find any bruises” on the child.
The boy’s mother issued a statement following Frankin’s sentencing, saying to local media outlets outside the courthouse, “I’m satisfied with it. It’s better than what I thought he would get. I wish he’d have more, death row would be great. But most likely by the time he gets out, he’ll probably be dead anyways.”
As for Cheyenne, she reportedly pleaded guilty to aiding/inducing/causing murder earlier in November and is awaiting sentencing which is scheduled for January 2026.
On the evening of August 3rd, Frankin Elmore along with his wife, Cheyenne Elmore, called 911 after Frankin’s son, Justin, became unresponsive after suffering an attack at the hands of Franklin.
The 6-year-old was rushed to an area hospital where he was found to have suffered a traumatic brain bleed and a punctured lung, which the injuries proved to be fatal.
Franklin initially told hospital staff that Justin had “hit himself,” which said medical staff informed authorities that the child’s injuries were not consistent with ones of self-harm.
Police later interviewed neighbors of the couple who reportedly told authorities that the Elmores would routinely enact cruel physical punishments on the boy, including grueling forced exercises.
On the day Justin was killed, his father and stepmother, Cheyenne, apparently forced him to run over three miles prior to the fatal beating.
Franklin and Cheyenne were arrested on August 8th on charges of murder, with Franklin entering a plea of guilty this past October. On November 25th, Franklin was handed down a 65 year sentence during his sentencing hearing at the Elkhart County Courthouse.
Upon learning his sentence, Franklin reportedly asked the judge to shorten his prison sentence after apologizing before the court for his actions, telling the judge, “I want to come out as a better man. Different man. That’s all I can do.” The judge was apparently unmoved by Franklin’s request for leniency, telling the convicted child killer, “You literally beat your son to death.”
Justin’s biological mother, Miranda McBride, who resided in a different state at the time of the murder, reportedly tried to get authorities in Indiana to do something about the abuse she suspected her son was enduring prior to his death. However, McBride was reportedly told by said authorities that “they could do nothing because they didn’t find any bruises” on the child.
The boy’s mother issued a statement following Frankin’s sentencing, saying to local media outlets outside the courthouse, “I’m satisfied with it. It’s better than what I thought he would get. I wish he’d have more, death row would be great. But most likely by the time he gets out, he’ll probably be dead anyways.”
As for Cheyenne, she reportedly pleaded guilty to aiding/inducing/causing murder earlier in November and is awaiting sentencing which is scheduled for January 2026.
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