Diana, Samuel Franklin Accused Of Keeping Child In Chicken Coop, Using Shock Collar

Parents Accused Of Keeping Daughter In Chicken Coop

Two Butler, Ga. parents are accused of forcing their adopted daughter to sleep in a chicken coop and wear a shock collar, among other allegations of abuse.

Diana and Samuel Franklin were arrested on Tuesday and charged with a combined 20 counts of first-degree cruelty to children and 12 counts of false imprisonment, according to WMAZ.

Agents at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation told MyFox Alabama that the 15-year-old girl said her parents made her wear a shock collar that was used on her several times.

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Questionable Parenting

A neighbor told the station he's sure the Franklins were abusing the child.

"I saw her when she was out in the yard working in that garden out there and I saw her around picking up trash in the yard," David Spillers said. "Mrs. Franklin hasn't denied none of it and I know it -- there is no doubt in my mind that she was mistreating that girl."

WSB Radio reports that an attorney for the couple has denied the allegations.

The girl was also forced to spend significant amounts of time in a chicken coop and in an old outhouse, authorities told the station.

GBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne Smith said the couple has three other children, all boys. One, who's 17, still lives at home and the other two are college-age, according to Smith.

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