Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – A 28-year-old Jonesboro mother is being held on a $100,000 cash/surety bond after police said she beat her daughter with a metal bed frame, forced her to sleep in a water heater closet, and kicked her out of the house into the snow.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Jonesboro police officers responded to a 911 call on Feb. 1 from Robbreanna Tishawn Franklin, who claimed her daughter was missing. Upon arriving at the home, officers found the child sitting in the snow, wearing only an oversized sweatshirt and no shoes.
When officers met the child, she said that Franklin had kicked her out of the home and told her never to return. She explained that Franklin punched her in the face with a closed fist and beat her with a metal bar from a broken bed frame and a folded phone charging cable. Officers noted bruising on both of the child’s arms and around her left eye.
Officers attempted to arrest Franklin, but she resisted and refused to get into the patrol vehicle. This required one officer to pull her into the vehicle while another pushed from the opposite side to get her secured.
Child Protective Services (CPS) responded to the scene and took the child to a hospital for a medical evaluation. A caseworker documented that the victim was covered “from head to toe” with fresh and healing bruises.
“These marks included patterned bruising consistent with the loop of a folded cable and linear bruises approximately a half-inch wide, consistent with a metal bar,” the affidavit stated, adding that the child had cuts on her back and hands. In addition, her top-left molar was broken in half, consistent with her statement of being hit in the face.
In a follow-up interview, the victim said her mother had thrown away all her belongings. Police were able to find the child’s clothes, toys, and mattress in trash cans at the property’s curb. Inside the home, officers found an upside-down black metal bed frame in the living room with several pieces broken off. They noted the child’s bedroom and closet were empty.
The victim added that she was forced to sleep in a water heater closet as punishment. The affidavit said the closet measured two feet by two feet, confirming the victim’s statement that she had to curl into a ball to fit inside.
Franklin was booked into the Craighead County Detention Center at 10:51 a.m., according to the online jail roster.
On Feb. 6, Franklin appeared before District Judge Tommy Fowler, who found probable cause to charge her with domestic battering – second degree/physical injury (Class B Felony), endangering the welfare of a minor – first-degree (Class D Felony), and resisting arrest – refusal to submit to arrest/active or passive refusal (Class B Misdemeanor). A mental health evaluation was requested for Franklin. She faces up to 27 years in prison and fines up to $26,000.
In addition to the $100,000 bond, Franklin was ordered to have no contact with her child. Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 20.
