A Jonesboro woman is facing multiple felony charges after police said she beat her 9-year-old daughter with a metal bar and punched her in the face.Craighead County District Court Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause Friday to charge 28-year-old Robbreanna Franklin with second-degree domestic battery, first-degree child endangerment and resisting arrest.
According to a police affidavit, Franklin called 911 on Sunday, Feb. 1, to report her daughter missing. When officers arrived at a residence on Scott Street, they reported finding the child sitting in the snow wearing an oversized sweatshirt and no shoes.
Police said the child had a fresh bruise around her left eye and told officers Franklin had punched her in the face with a closed fist.
“The victim reported that Franklin had beaten her with a metal bar from a broken bed frame and a folded phone charging cable,” the affidavit stated.
The child was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. While there, a Child Protective Services caseworker documented that the child was “covered from head to toe with a combination of fresh and healing bruises,” according to the court document.
Officers reported seeing a black metal bed frame in the living room with several pieces broken off.
During a follow-up interview, the child told investigators Franklin had thrown away her belongings.
“A search of the property located the child’s clothes, toys and mattress in trash cans at the curb for pickup,” the affidavit said. “The child’s bedroom and closet were empty.”
The victim also told police she was forced to sleep in a water heater closet as punishment and had to curl into a ball to fit inside the space.
When officers attempted to take Franklin into custody, police said she resisted arrest and refused to enter a patrol vehicle. The affidavit stated it took two officers to push and pull Franklin into the vehicle for transport to the Craighead County Detention Center.
Franklin remains in custody on a $100,000 cash or surety bond. She is scheduled to appear in circuit court on March 20. Fowler also ordered Franklin to have no contact with the child and to undergo a mental evaluation.
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