An Indiana father who tortured his 6-year-old son for months before beating him to death will spend decades behind bars after a judge rejected his plea for leniency.
Franklin Elmore Jr. initially claimed that his son, Justin Elmore, caused his own fatal injuries. Justin was rushed to the hospital on August 3 after becoming unresponsive, and Elmore told medical staff the child had been hitting himself in the head due to behavioral issues. Doctors quickly dismissed that explanation after discovering a brain bleed, a punctured lung, and extensive bruising and abrasions across the boy’s body—injuries they said were not self-inflicted.
Both Elmore and his wife, 27-year-old Cheyenne Elmore, were charged with murder. Investigators later uncovered surveillance footage from Justin’s playroom showing Franklin assaulting the child shortly before his death, according to Crime Online. Additional video reportedly captured Elmore pacing in the backyard with his hands on his head while Cheyenne dialed 911.
Further investigation revealed that Justin had endured months of extreme physical punishment. Elmore forced the boy to perform prolonged exercise, beat him with a belt, and put a bar of soap in his mouth as discipline. Earlier this month, he pleaded guilty to murder, admitting he “knowingly” killed his son but claiming he “did not mean it.”
On Tuesday, Elmore was sentenced to 65 years in prison—55 years for murder and an additional 10 years for aggravated 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. Though Elmore begged for a lighter sentence, the judge sharply rejected his request, stating: “You literally beat your son to death.”
Justin’s mother, Miranda McBride, attended the sentencing. “I’m satisfied with it,” she said. “I wish he’d have more—death row would be great. But by the time he gets out, he’ll probably be dead anyway.”
Cheyenne Elmore also pleaded guilty this month for her role in Justin’s death. Prosecutors say she failed to report the abuse and did nothing to intervene. She is scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2026.