Jury Finds Bert Franklin Guilty Of Killing Toddler, Murder-For-Hire Plot

An Oklahoma County jury found a Tulsa dentist guilty of first-degree murder and soliciting murder. 

Bert Franklin was charged for the 2016 death of a toddler and another charge for soliciting a hit on the child’s mother. 

The jury had to carefully review evidence presented for both cases against Franklin. They sat through two weeks of detailed witness testimony. 

Read Related Story: State And Defense Rest In Bert Franklin Murder Trial

At the heart of the trial is the abuse killing of 19-month-old Lincoln Lewis. The child of Franklin’s girlfriend Roxanne Randall. 

The jury had to decide if the dentist willfully and violently threw the child to the ground or kicked him in the head, leading to a deadly head injury. 

They also had to decide if Franklin arranged to have someone kill his girlfriend. Prosecutors say Franklin’s murder trial was approaching and he wanted the baby’s mother out of the picture.

Franklin’s attorney, Scott Adams told the jury the doctor did not kill the child and had no desire to have his girlfriend killed. He urged the jury to let Dr. Franklin go home, instead the jury recommended he spend life in prison. 

“The jury’s verdict of life without parole and life on top of that,” said Gayland Geiger, Oklahoma Co. District Attorney’s Office. “I anticipate Judge Truong to stack those sentences together and Mr. Franklin does not ever need to be released again.” 

Franklin’s sentencing is set for Oct. 19.