An Indiana father will spend decades in prison after a judge denied his request for leniency, having tortured his 6-year-old son for months before beating him to death.
Franklin Elmore Jr. first claimed that his son, Justin Elmore, caused his own grave injuries. Justin was transported to the hospital on August 3 after becoming unresponsive, and Elmore informed medical personnel that the child was hitting himself in the head due to behavioral concerns. Doctors swiftly discounted that explanation after discovering a brain bleed, a punctured lung, and extensive bruising and abrasions on the boy’s body, which they claimed were not self-inflicted.
Both Elmore and his wife, Cheyenne Elmore, 27, were charged with murder. Investigators later discovered security tape from Justin’s playroom that showed Franklin abusing the child shortly before his death, according to Crime Online. Elmore was seen pacing in the backyard with his hands on his head as Cheyenne contacted 911.
Subsequent investigation revealed that Justin endured months of intense physical abuse. Elmore punished the boy by forcing him to exercise for an extended period of time, beating him with a belt, and placing a bar of soap in his mouth. Earlier this month, he pled guilty to murder, acknowledging he “knowingly” killed his son but maintaining he “did not mean it.”
Elmore received a 65-year jail term on Tuesday, with 55 years for murder and an additional 10 years for severe circumstances. The sentences will run concurrently.
“The question is not how he died, but how he survived through months of abuse,” Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker said in court. Elmore begged for a reduced punishment, but the court flatly refused, saying, “You literally beat your son to death.”
Miranda McBride, Justin’s mother, attended the sentencing. “I’m satisfied with it,” she replied. “I wish he had more—death row would be ideal. But by the time he gets out, he’ll most likely be dead.
Cheyenne Elmore pleaded guilty this month to her role in Justin’s death. Prosecutors claim she neglected to report the abuse and did nothing to intervene. She is expected to be sentenced on January 13, 2026.
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