A 15-year-old disabled boy starved to death just days after a social worker determined there was no immediate danger in his home, despite his disclosure that he was being spanked and denied food.
Karreon Adams-Franks died on November 27, 2020, after suffering abuse at the hands of his adoptive parents, Felicia Adams and Jesse Franks.
Adams, the sister of Karreon’s biological mother, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for his murder in December 2023. Franks received a 30-year sentence.
Last week, the State of Washington—including the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)—and the Evergreen School District reached a $49.3 million settlement with Karreon’s estate.
The settlement will be divided between the state and the school district.
Davis Law Group, which represented Karreon’s estate and his two surviving brothers, said years of warning signs indicated that all three boys were being abused at home.
According to the law firm, Adams and Franks beat the boys with extension cords and canes, withheld food as punishment, and confined them to their bedrooms for days at a time.
Karreon weighed only 61 pounds when he died, down from 115 pounds a little more than a year earlier. He was autistic, nonverbal, and legally blind.
Karreon Adams-Franks died on November 27, 2020, after his adoptive parents, Felicia Adams and Jesse Franks, starved him. He was autistic, nonverbal, and legally blind.
Adams and Franks beat Karreon and his two surviving brothers with extension cords and canes and withheld food from them. Adams was sentenced to 35 years in prison and Franks to 30 years in 2023.
DCYF had received reports of abuse as early as 2017, the law firm said. In 2020, a relative contacted the agency and reported that Karreon looked like a “walking skeleton.”
A DCYF employee visited the family home six days before Karreon’s death and noted that he appeared “very skinny,” according to the law firm.
“This child was very skinny but also very tall. Did not have any observable injuries on exposed skin,” the DCYF fatality review stated, according to The Seattle Times.
“The caseworker encouraged the mother to look up the laws regarding acceptable discipline and said spanking with an object was not advised. She then left the home and documented that there was no present danger.”
Following Karreon’s death, DCYF changed its policies. Employees responding to abuse allegations are now required to take photographs, The Seattle Times reported.
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Karreon’s estate also alleged that the school district failed to protect the boys. The district had previously informed Adams that the children had said they were not given food over the weekend. The boys were beaten after making that disclosure, according to the law firm.
A medical examiner determined in 2021 that Karreon died from starvation and neglect. His death was classified as a homicide.
Adams and Franks surrendered after officials issued arrest warrants, according to KOIN.
A social worker visited the home six days before Karreon’s death, observed that he was “very skinny,” but concluded that there was no immediate danger in the household.
In 2023, both Adams and Franks were convicted of domestic violence homicide and criminal mistreatment.
‘No amount of money will ever make up for what happened to Karreon and what his brothers lived through,’ lawyer Chris Davis said in a statement.
The boys were forced to watch their older brother slowly die. The people and agencies responsible for protecting them, at school and at the State, saw the warning signs for years and did not act.
‘We hope this settlement gives Karreon’s brothers the stability and support to build the future they deserve. We also hope it reminds every governmental agency and school district that each warning sign must be treated as if a child’s life depends on it, because it often does.’
In a statement, Evergreen Public Schools said: ‘The district recognizes the profound loss of Karreon’s life and the lasting impact on his family. This was a tragic situation and the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes are in prison for their actions.
‘Evergreen Public Schools hopes that this settlement will allow Karreon’s brothers to continue healing without the burden of enduring a trial.’
It also maintained that ‘none of its staff failed to make a mandatory report’ to DCYF.
‘The district maintains that its staff are well-trained and understand their mandatory reporting responsibilities,’ it said in a statement.
The district said it agreed to settle to avoid a ‘jury verdict exceeding the district’s available insurance coverage.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Evergreen Public Schools and DCYF for comment.