Mt. Upton Man Wants Retrial for Autistic Son’s Murder

A Chenango County man convicted of killing his special needs, adopted son and setting their home on fire wants a new trial.

37-year-old Ernest Franklin II's lawyer has filed a motion for a retrial for the Mount Upton man convicted in March of murder, arson and evidence tampering in the death of 16-year old Jeffrey and setting the fire in a move reportedly inspired by the film, Manchester by the Sea.

Franklin’s trial ended after a surprisingly short period of time, lasting only a few days with the jury taking less than a day to come to guilty verdicts.  He was due to be sentenced today to 25-years to life in prison before the new motions were filed in Chenango County Court.

Shortly after her husband’s conviction, 35-year-old Heather Franklin pleaded guilty in a bench trial to manslaughter, arson and evidence tampering in the March 2017 death of the couple’s son whose body was found by firefighters in the burning mobile home.