Update: Franklin Police asked for information from the public after a lookalike bomb was found in an outdoor trash can last week at the Williamson County Recreation Center on Fulton Greer Ln, near Mack Hatcher and Hillsboro Rd.
The facility was evacuated and the area locked down while a THP Bomb Squad worked with Franklin Police only to determine the device posed no danger. With helpful information from the public, detectives determined that that the faux TNT was a prop at a nearby church program centered on the theme of coal mining.
The Department will never take for granted our commitment to protecting our citizens, and will, without hesitation, do all we can to protect the safety of our community. We’re thankful that there was no danger nor ill-intent related to this incident.
On June 27, 2020, Jamarcus Esmon was murdered – gunned down on Edgewood Boulevard. He was 26.
With Esmon’s killer still at large, the reward for information that leads to the identification and arrest of his killer has been raised to $15,000, thanks to Governor Bill Lee, who just added $10,000 to the $5,000 reward originally offered by Franklin Police. The additional reward money is thanks to the efforts of the District Attorney General, Kim Helper.
With $15k in reward money on the table, today, Franklin Police and Esmon’s family walked the neighborhood he was murdered in, hoping that their visit will encourage witnesses to come forward.
Franklin Police will never slow in our efforts to find **** W h o K i l l e d J a m a r c u s E s m o n ***
Crime Stoppers: (615) 794-4000
or submit your eTip here # # #
A local resident has pledged a $1,000 cash reward to anyone who can identify these burglars. On May 17, they broke into two downtown businesses and stole cash from inside.
The $1,000 reward, privately pledged through Williamson County Sheriff Dusty Rhoades, is in addition to the up to $1,000 already pledged by Crime Stoppers.
The family of Ed and Charlotte House asked the Department to release the following statement on their behalf, following Sunday’s tragic crash:
“The overwhelming grief over this loss is indescribable. Our family feels the love and prayers of so many. But now, and in the days ahead, we want the community to join us in directing that love and those prayers toward the other family; for their comfort, complete healing, and recovery during this unimaginable time.”
The House family, so rooted in first responder service, expressed their earnest appreciation for the first responders who worked so hard to save lives and bring hope to all eight of yesterday’s victims.
Franklin Police are investigating after a 2-vehicle Easter afternoon crash at Murfreesboro Rd. and Royal Oaks Blvd. sent eight people to three different hospitals. A beloved Franklin couple, Ed and Charlotte House, died yesterday. The victims in the second vehicle, two adults and four children, were seriously hurt.
Preliminary investigation indicates that Mr. House was traveling west on Murfreesboro Rd. when, for reasons unknown, he crashed into the rear end of the other vehicle while it was stopped for a red light, waiting to turn left onto Royal Oaks Blvd.
Mr. and Mrs. House were the parents of retired Franklin Fire Department Battalion Chief Eddie House, a 34-year member of the FFD. Chief House now serves as Deputy Chief for the Spring Hill Fire Department. Mr. House, 81, was a 20-year volunteer member of the Franklin Fire Department. Mrs. House, 77, served for 14 years in the City’s Finance Department, retiring in 2010.
Our entire city team is deeply saddened by the loss of Mr. and Mrs. House, and our prayers are with their family and the other victims who were involved in this terrible crash.
(Surveillance photos taken from Hardee’s and nearby area businesses)
Franklin Police and Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that helps to identify this March 9 robber who held up the Columbia Avenue Hardee’s.
The suspect was wearing two jackets and a baseball hat when he walked into the restaurant at 5:15 am, indicated that he had a gun, and demanded money. No one was injured during the robbery. The suspect can be seen in a nearby surveillance photo carrying a skateboard.
Through an exhaustive video review and the tireless work of investigators, every victim whose image was captured and stored on the hidden GoPro found in a Premier Athletics changing and restroom has been identified, 55 in all.
The initial information shared by the Department was that there were 60 victims, but that number has since changed to 55, as some of the victims were filmed by that camera more than once. Fifty-three of the victims are minors, and the parents of every minor victim, and the two adult victims have all been notified.
The Department’s continued efforts in this case are now focused on two things: (1) Preparing a Grand Jury presentment in which we will be seeking charges on behalf of the victims, and (2) The thorough review of additional evidence in this case. The Franklin Police Department wants to ensure that the suspect is held fully accountable for his crimes by leaving no stone unturned. While we’ve made some incredible progress, the investigation is far from over.
Anyone with information regarding this case can share it directly with detectives by emailing concern@franklintn.gov.
As the investigation into a hidden camera found inside a girls bathroom at Premier Athletics continues, Franklin Police want to provide an update to victims and parents.
The GoPro camera that was found hidden in a girls changing and restroom has been reviewed. Videos of 60 females, mostly minors, were discovered on the camera. Detectives believe that the suspect had been intermittently staging the camera to capture video in the restroom since September. Two of the 60 victims appear to have been partially undressed in the videos. Working with facility management, detectives have identified 47 of the 60 victims and are in the process of notifying their parents. Detectives are working to identify the remaining 13 victims.
The girls changing and restroom at the center of this investigation is located inside the Premier Athletics suite. There is no current evidence to suggest that other restrooms or private areas in the multi-tenant facility were compromised.
Franklin Police Detectives are examining a variety of other evidence seized as part of the investigation and expect to file multiple charges. Once formally charged in this case, Franklin Police will identify the suspect, his charges, bond amount, and court date.
The placement of a camera in such a private place is a violation of trust in its most extreme form. This is terribly upsetting to parents and their children, and it is just as troubling to us. The Department is working diligently to safeguard sensitive images, to help victims and their families cope, and to prepare a solid criminal case for the courtroom.
Parents can share information they may have about this case by emailing Franklin Police at: concern@franklintn.gov
