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 Franklin's body is removed from the room at about 11 a.m. Sunday. [Click to enlarge] |
Karl Maurice Franklin, 42, of Gardendale, Ala. was reported to have died after being shot four times by an unknown assailant about 8:45 a.m. in room 54 of Sunrise Inn, 1170 U.S. Hwy. 51 Bypass.
"We are looking for three black male suspects, who may be driving a red Pontiac compact car," said Chief Terry Ledbetter.
The vehicle could be a Pontiac Sunfire, he said. Witnesses said the car had dark-tinted windows.
 DPD Investigator Monte Essary brushes the motel room window for clues. [Click to enlarge] |
The second suspect is 18-25 years of age, fair to medium skin, athletic build, wearing jeans and shirt.
The third suspect is 5'10-5'11, 18-25 years of age, skinny, light to medium skin, wearing a grey sweat shirt with hood, and jeans.
 Police Lt. Mike Dobis draws his weapon as room 53 is searched. [Click to enlarge] |
Police are looking for at least two black males described as young and one possibly with braided hair. The pair is associated with a red Pontiac Sunfire with dark-tinted windows.
The driver, according to the be-on-the-lookout report released Saturday by the DPD, could be named "Pat."
Ledbetter said Franklin was shot with what appeared to be a .22-caliber pistol.
Franklin had checked into the Sunrise Inn sometime overnight Saturday and given room 53, next door to the room where he was fatally shot. The room number confusion gave rise to suspicions Franklin may not have been the intended target of the shooter.
Franklin was part of a construction crew working for a contractor in Union City, said people at the hotel familiar with the man. Franklin had been residing in Dyersburg for the last several months, said police.
Anyone with information on the identities of the suspects is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at (731) 285-TIPS or the DPD's Criminal Investigation Division at (731) 288-7679.
Why can we not go back to the chain gang thing for people who are in jail. Make them work hard to pay for their upkeep.
PEOPLE PLEASE, DYERSBURG POLICE OFFICERS CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. THE NUMBER OF CALLS THEY GET IS OUTRAGIOUS. THEY CAN NOT DO IT ALL. THERE IS SO MANY DRUG HEADS OUT THERE IT IS A SHAME THAT THEY HAVE TO RISK THEIR LIVES FOR THIS CRAP. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW THEY SHOULD PATROL THESE AREAS MORE, HOW MANY OF U WOULD PUT YOUR LIFE IN DANGER. THE POLICE DEAL WITH CRAP FROM CRIMINALS EVERYDAY AND FOR WHAT . THE CRIMINALS GET A SLAP ON THE HAND AND GET OFF. I THINK WE NEED TO CRACK DOWN ON THESE PEOPLE HARDER. PUT THEM IN JAIL AND MAKE THEM WORK FOR THEIR UPKEEP. WHY SHOULD TAXPAYERS PAY FOR THESE CRIMINALS TO SET IN JAIL. THEY SHOULD BE MADE IT WORK OR NOT EAT. LIFE HAS GOTTEN TO EASY FOR THEM SO THEY KEEP DOIN THESE CRIMES. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE OFFICERS NOT DOIN THEIR JOBS , JUST REMEMBER YOU ARE NOT HAVING TO DO IT SO SHUT UP
Looks like Dyersburg PD needs to clean up and patrol these areas a lot more. They appear to be drug infested. Not only are they an eyesore they are havens for criminals. If the presance of law enforcement was constant in these areas they would be less attractive to these type individuals. Let's clean it up Dyersburg!
People like to complain.
Why is it that people always have to complain about the people in charge? I agree that some do not do what they need to but if everyone thinks they can do a better job than the ones in there now, why are you not running for the office?
exresident;You are right about our elected officials,lawyers, etc. who use recreational drugs and a few go way beyond recreation. Dyersburg is a dirty little town, nothing like what it once was.For you people who think it is just Southtown and Milltown that need to be cleaned up you need to wake up. I don't care where you live in Dyersburg there is drug avtivity going on and it is not going to stop until the law here cracks down on drug dealers.People I know of what I speak.Until we get a sheriff in this town things are going to keep getting worse if that is possible.wake up people, this is your town and the place where you are raising your children.Get off your butts and get a sheriff in here that is going to do something.Ours sure isn't unless you count getting your picture in the paper at every oppurtunity.Just look at how crime has risen in the last few years and that has a lot to do with our elected officials turning their backs on drug dealers.They are the key not the addicts.Seems to me somebody is getting some cutbacks. Hmmmmm, wonder who.People WAKE UP!When election time comes get out and vote and make some changes in this town.We do have some fine deputies but they can't do much without a sheriff.I really hope you get to read this before our distinguished editor knocking it off.
Where is Lieutenant Detective Sergeant Frank Drebbin of "Police Squad" when you need him? Because it's obvious that these 'law enforcement professionals' couldn't find their own rear ends with both hands!
bad boys bad boys. I think I would look at the truth not just what the paper wants you to believe. Its not the news paper anymore its the bull paper.
We had a sheriff much like Buford. I'm not calling any names but his movie would have been WALKING SHORT.
we need a sheriff like buford pusser who walks around with a big stick beating every crack dealer and meth distributor he sees in dyer county
The problem Ledbetter has a grip its a grip
of fear he is afraid ot make a decession he
has the good officers doing the same a change
will come when we get a leader.
I agree, the police department seems to be focusing all of their attention elsewhere and doing too little too late where it counts.
I noticed the shift as well as to who was releasing department information. Someone needs to get a grip on this department.
Nuisance law new tactic where has Ledbeter been There has been a neisance law for years why has he not been enforcing it. Notice hear
lately he has been making statements in the paper instead of Isbell. Someone built a fire
under his butt. Wasn't the Mayor he hasen't woke up yet. Must have got some heat on the alderman someone got to him.Seven murders
most ubsolved. What was Williamson thinking
when he recommend this NUT for chief. He was fired in Obion when he was chief there. Wake up Alderman give your police department a
break out with Ledbetter.
Amen , katyboo
vanity5, there are two possible ansewers to your question about why the DPD cannot solve murders. 1) they are not getting the proper formal education to fulfill the position they are hired for OR 2) ever wonder who was involved and what the motives were? you know, when the Cribbs were in office, people found out what went with a lot of missing people. Just because the Cribbs are not in office (officially) doesn't mean the stratagy has changed. Old Mr. Cribbs was not so eternally bright that he was the only one who thought of taking care of business the way he did.
Who's holing their breath here? don't ya think there are about as many elected officials and their family memebers who enjoy recreational drugs as do the average Joe? have ya thought about the attorneys, officers, etc. who enjoy them, too but turn the key on the individuals who do not play by the same rules they do. ha ha ha. what a classic case of total hyprocacy in the system everywhere; not just Dyersburg. If ya think i'm wrong, hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
What's wrong with putting away drug dealers? Most murders are drug related. I never could understand the need for drugs. If I party and have fun, I want to be able to remember it the next day. Getting high on drugs is an admission of being incapable of pleasure without artificial stimulants. As Sister Sarah used to say, drug users and boozers are nothing but losers.
Dyersburg is having too many murders and they are not being solved. But drug dealers are being put away everyday. It seems like in Dyersburg you can kill somebody and get away with it because Dyersburg Police can not solve murders. It has only been about two murders in Dyersburg solved and the other dozens have went unsolved. What's wrong with this picture.
I pray for the families of these people. Everyone will suffer that loves and cares for the victim and the shooters. It has gotten very dangerous in the southern part of Dyersburg, and in the area known as "Milltown". It has changed so much from when I lived there.
Hopefully this will open the eyes of the Dyersburg Police Dept. and leaders in the community to have faith, strength, and pride in their job and do it the way it should be done. One can only hope that Mayor Holden will set his heels in and make great changes in the town.
wow..that's just terrible. This occured just a bit away from my home where my 3 year old nephew plays outside on a regular basis. scary to think no one is safe anywhere anymore..