WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Bolton suspect once eyed as serial killer back in jail

Bolton suspect once eyed as serial killer back in jail

By Marsha Thompson - bio | email

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - We continue our in- depth coverage of cold case murders in Hinds County dating back to 1996.

A young Bolton man once under suspicion as a serial killer has re-surfaced. According to Hinds County District Attorney Robert Schuler-Smith, "I do feel like I have a very dangerous man behind bars."  That is how Hinds County's District Attorney describes Ricky Franklin. A young man once under investigation as a possible suspect in 10 murders.

In a dramatic turn of events Franklin is under lock and key again after surrendering. Charged with violent crimes rape, kidnapping, aggravated assault and sexual battery. We posted this question to Mr. Smith. "Are you surprised he would allegedly come back and commit and other crime of a similar nature? No we are not surprised these allegations have resurfaced, we are not surprised at all." 

According to the victim on or about November 7, 2009, she was approached in the Virden Addition area of Jackson by Franklin.  He was driving a brown Ford pickup.  He wanted her to go to a club in Bolton.  He then took her to his trailer on White Singleton Road in Bolton.  Franklin she says, held her against her will, "threatened my life, beat me severely with a bottle and his fist, chocked me by grabbing my windpipe, tried to bite off my ear, and raped me."

The District Attorney tells WLBT News, someone entered the room when the attack was underway and managed to stop the attack.

It was July of 1999 when the body of a young black female was found shot to death near an oil well near the St. Thomas community of Bolton. Her remains were never identified. She's known as Jane Doe #1. On Halloween 1999, squirrel hunters walked up on the remains of second body at a separate location on St. Thomas Road. Investigators identified 23-year-old Shanon McKinney, stabbed 48 times in the head with a screwdriver.

In the same area they found Jane Doe #2, a woman beaten, shot and partially burned. The other victim discovered was Mabel Conic, a known prostitute, age 41. Her cause of death was listed as possible gunshot trauma. Last year Ricky Levert Franklin was shackled as he was led to court to face kidnapping and capital murder charges in Conic's death. Again even new evidence presented by law enforcement investigators in the case was deemed circumstantial. The case was turned over to a grand jury and Franklin was released as a free man.

Relatives we talked with in 2008 said investigators had the wrong man and that Franklin was not violent and had never harmed anyone.  

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