Background: Otter Tail Lake (Google Maps). Inset: Franklin Dickinson (Otter Tail County (Minn.) Jail).
A man accused of trying to drown his mother and sister in a Minnesota lake has apparently blamed a drug-infused seltzer for his violent outburst.
Franklin Dickinson, aged 42, is accused of attempting to strangle and drown his 64-year-old mother and 25-year-old sister at Otter Tail Lake, as reported by local radio station KFGO. Prosecutors allege that Dickinson held his sister underwater until she became unconscious and also pulled his mother by the hair when she intervened to assist her daughter.
Upon responding to a 911 call about the attempted drowning, deputies claim that Dickinson explained he was reacting negatively to a THC-infused seltzer drink.
As reported by the local news website The Journal, which references court documents, one of the victims informed deputies she was submerged for an extended period, and the deputy noted she had injuries on her neck and collarbone. It is further claimed that the other victim told investigators Dickinson pulled her sister under a dock on the lake. When she shouted for assistance, a neighboring resident’s son leapt into the lake and rescued the first victim from Dickinson’s grasp.
That victim has reportedly said that she would not have survived if Dickinson hadn’t been pulled off of her.
Initially charged with assault and domestic assault, the Otter County prosecutor has confirmed to Law&Crime that the charges now include one count of second-degree attempted murder, two felony counts of domestic assault by strangulation, and one misdemeanor count of causing fear through domestic assault.
Otter Tail County is situated in the state’s western region, approximately 190 miles northwest of Minneapolis and 75 miles southeast of Fargo, North Dakota.
According to Otter Tail County Jail records, Dickinson remains in custody. He has a hearing scheduled for Sept. 15.
