|
Parents Of Vanished
Teen Ask Governor To Investigate
April 9, 2007
By Dave Reynolds
MARIANNA, FLORIDA--The parents of a
teenager with developmental disabilities want Governor Charlie Crist
to open an investigation into the boy's December 6, 2002,
disappearance at the institution where he was housed.
Franklin Weekley was diagnosed with
moderate mental retardation, a seizure disorder, and severe speech
difficulties. State officials said he had a history of misbehavior,
including setting fires, attacking teachers and throwing tantrums.
Against his parents wishes, a judge ordered Franklin to be committed
in early 2002 to the Sunland Training Center, a state-run facility
in Marianna, for his own protection.
Things got worse for the
17-year-old at the facility, where family members said he was often
physically restrained, held in seclusion for days at a time, and
appeared over-medicated.
According to records cited in
Saturday's Miami Herald, the day before his disappearance, Franklin
was sick with a fever. He was also forcibly restrained four times,
including once when he suffered a "deep laceration" to his ear
requiring five stitches.
Staff did not notify Franklin's
family that he was missing until three hours after staff started
searching for him. Staff also kept his father from searching the
Sunland campus. A 10-day search in the local area turned up no sign
of the teen.
Two years later, workers
dismantling an abandoned building on the Sunland campus found
remains, including underwear with Franklin's name and teeth that a
medical examiner said matched his dental records.
State officials, however, have not
admitted that the remains belonged to Franklin.
"It's the worst hurt you could ever
go through," said Franklin's father, Eddie Weekley. "We miss him
very bad."
Last week, Franklin's parents asked
Crist to order a full investigation into their son's treatment and
disappearance. They say they have been encouraged by the governor's
advocacy on behalf of the parents of Martin Anderson, a 14-year-old
who died last year after being restrained and beaten by officers at
a juvenile boot camp.
Related: "Plea to Crist: Help us
find our son" (Miami Herald)
http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/66366.html
"Family pleas for Crist to help in boy's disappearance"
(Associated Press via Lakeland Ledger)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/07/red/0410d.htm
|
