Franklin Elmore Jr. (left) and Cheyenne Elmore (Indiana County Jail Public Portal).
An Indiana couple was charged with murder days after they were arrested in connection with the death of their 6-year-old son.
Franklin Elmore Jr., 29, and Cheyenne Elmore, 27, were detained on Aug. 8 after they brought their 6-year-old son to the hospital days earlier. According to a Facebook post by the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office, the father, Franklin Elmore, informed hospital staff that his son “hit himself” before losing consciousness. However, the staff indicated that the child’s injuries appeared too severe to be self-inflicted, including a “traumatic brain injury and a punctured lung.” Tragically, the boy later passed away.
The prosecutor noted that a deeper investigation revealed Cheyenne Elmore, the boy’s stepmother, had expressed complaints about his behavior to her husband.
Authorities learned from the couple that on the night of Aug. 3, Franklin and Cheyenne Elmore were in the home’s “playroom” when Franklin allegedly “attacked” the boy. As per court documents obtained by local NBC affiliate WNDU, the couple called 911 when the boy became unresponsive, claiming he would hit himself in the head due to behavior issues.
According to WNDU, medical staff and a trauma surgeon at Elkhart General Hospital informed investigators they doubted the boy’s injuries were self-inflicted. A search of the Elmores’ phones allegedly revealed numerous photos showing the boy with clear bruises and various injuries.
Both Elmores allegedly told police they disciplined the child by making him perform physical exercises. They also allegedly confessed to “whooping” him with a belt or their hands. Neighbors reportedly observed the boy undertaking these exercises in the family’s yard, according to police accounts.
WNDU reported that the boy’s biological mother, residing in Alabama, had voiced concerns about her son’s safety, reaching out to Indiana’s Department of Child Services. Nevertheless, she was informed that officials “could do nothing because they didn’t find any bruises.” She also mentioned her son had told her about “going to bed hungry at night when he gets in trouble.”
The mother filed formal reports with the department, which responded that there was nothing to investigate. In a statement to WNDU, the department said, “DCS has reviewed its records in order to determine if there are non-confidential and responsive records and if the agency is statutorily authorized to release those records.” DCS added, “We do not have statutory authority to release any records related to [the boy], due to an ongoing police investigation or criminal prosecution.”
Franklin and Cheyenne Elmore are both charged with murder and are being held in custody without bail. They are both due in court again on Aug. 14.
