A father in the United States has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for the brutal murder of his six-year-old son, after initially trying to blame the boy for his own fatal injuries.
A Vicious Assault and a Sickening Lie
Franklin Elmore Jr., 29, was handed the lengthy prison term after pleading guilty to murdering his son, Justin Elmore. During his sentencing hearing, the judge dismissed Elmore's plea for leniency, stating bluntly: "You literally beat your son to death." The case began on 3 August 2025, when Elmore and his wife, Cheyenne Elmore, 27, called emergency services to their Louisiana home, reporting that Justin was unresponsive.
The young boy was rushed to hospital with catastrophic injuries, including a traumatic brain bleed and a punctured lung. Medical professionals immediately alerted police, stating they did not believe the wounds were self-inflicted, contradicting Franklin Elmore's claim that Justin had "hit himself." Tragically, Justin died in hospital, leading to the arrest of both his father and stepmother on 8 August 2025.
A Pattern of Cruel Punishments Revealed
As the investigation unfolded, the full horror of Justin's short life became clear. Neighbours provided witness statements detailing the extreme and cruel punishments the child was forced to endure. These included intense physical exercise regimes such as jumping rope, holding weights, and running.
Prosecutors revealed that on the day Justin was fatally assaulted, he had been forced by his father and stepmother to run for 3.5 miles, a punishing activity that lasted around 90 minutes. Following this, he was beaten to death in the playroom of his own home.
Justice Served and a Mother's Anguish
Franklin Elmore entered a guilty plea just before his trial was due to start. In court, when asked by his attorney if he had knowingly killed another human being, he replied, "Yes, sir." He later claimed he "did not mean it," but conceded that his methods of discipline were not consistent with normal parenting. In total, he received a sentence of 55 years for murder plus an additional 10 years for aggravated crimes.
Justin's stepmother, Cheyenne Elmore, who initially pleaded not guilty, changed her plea to guilty on 6 November 2025. She is scheduled to be sentenced on 13 January 2026.
Justin's birth mother, Miranda McBride, told media she had previously tried to alert Indiana authorities about her son's welfare but was reportedly told they could not intervene without visible evidence of bruising. A subsequent search of the Elmores' phones uncovered photos of Justin with various bruises and injuries. Following the sentencing, McBride said she was satisfied, adding: "It's better than what I thought he would get. I wish he'd have more, death row would be great."
