GUILTY FL - Christine Franke, 25, UCF student, Orlando, shot in head, 21 Oct 2001 *DNA arrest*

[dotr]

Police release DNA composite in UCF student's 15-year-old cold case
"ORLANDO, Fla. - Fifteen years after a 25-year-old University of Central Florida student was found dead in her apartment, Orlando police say they are hoping a DNA composite will lead to new leads in the cold case.

Christine Franke was a bartender at Cigarz, a now closed Universal Orlando restaurant, and was studying at UCF for a career in education when she was shot in the head on Oct. 21, 2001. Friends found her body at her Audubon Park apartment.

At a press conference on Friday, the Orlando Police Department said they worked with Parabon's Snapshot DNA Phenotyping Service in this case to produce a composite sketch of an African American male who would have been 25 year old, with an average body-mass index of 22, officials said.

Officials say the composite is based on DNA and may note be an exact replica of appearance.

In 2001, investigators said Franke was killed sometime between 4:30 a.m. and 3:15 a.m."

 

[dotr]

TODAY! This announcement may have to do with this murder as it occurred in 2001, imo speculation.

Orlando police to make major announcement in 2001 cold case
By Brenda Argueta
Posted: 11:00 AM, November 05, 2018
"Detectives have not said which case announcement is about"
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Police Department is making a major announcement in a 2001 homicide case.

Chief Orlando Rolon, Mayor Buddy Dyer and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen will be at OPD Headquarters for the cold case announcement Monday at 1:30 p.m."

 

[dotr]

Nov 5 2018
Orlando police announce break in 2001 murder cold case
"Orlando police detective are announcing a break in a 2001 murder case Monday afternoon.

Benjamin L Holmes was identified as the suspect in the murder of Christine Franke.

Franke was 25 when she was killed. She was studying education at the University of Central Florida and working as a bartender and waitress at Cigarz bar at Universal CityWalk.

That’s where she was last seen alive: Leaving work about 4 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2001. Her roommate, who was out of town, couldn’t reach Franke and asked a neighbor to check on her.

The neighbor found Franke’s apartment door ajar and came back to her own apartment crying, her boyfriend told the Orlando Sentinel in 2002. Franke had been shot in the head. They called 911."

 

[zencompass]

Orlando police solve 2001 cold case murder using DNA, genealogy database

WS Thread: FL - Christine Franke, 25, UCF student, Orlando, shot in head, 21 Oct 2001

Christine Franke was 25 when she was killed on Oct. 21, 2001. On Friday — 17 years later — Orlando police detectives made an arrest: Benjamin L. Holmes, 38, is facing a first-degree murder charge

Dear TedMac,

Thank you so much for this information. Justice for Christine.

May her loved ones hold one another close during this time. My heart goes out to them.

Christine's light will shine forever in the hearts of those who love her.

 

[margarita25]

Wow just wow just wow! This is so awesome!!

Thank you, TedMac for posting this in the Breaking News section, and @dotr starting this thread.

Orlando police solve 2001 cold case murder using DNA, genealogy database

WS Thread: FL - Christine Franke, 25, UCF student, Orlando, shot in head, 21 Oct 2001

Christine Franke was 25 when she was killed on Oct. 21, 2001. On Friday — 17 years later — Orlando police detectives made an arrest: Benjamin L. Holmes, 38, is facing a first-degree murder charge

“Holmes was identified after Parabon Nanolabs, a Virginia company working with the Orlando Police Department, ran a DNA sample from the scene of the crime through an open-source genealogy database and identified three people believed to be distant cousins of the killer, Det. Michael Fields said Monday.

From there, Fields built the family tree, identified Holmes as the most likely suspect and got a warrant for his DNA, which matched the profile from 2001. California detectives used the same method earlier this year to identify Joseph James DeAngelo as a suspect in the Golden State Killer cases.“

Orlando police solve 2001 cold case murder using DNA, genealogy database

 

[Niner]

Here's what I've found so far on the court site.

Date Description Pages Doc Request
Doc
11/6/2018 Notice of Intent to Participate in Discovery

Comments: AND DEMAND FOR FAVORABLE AND IMPEACHMENT INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH BRADY
5
11/5/2018 First Appearance Information Sheet 1
11/5/2018 Warrant Returned Served 3
11/3/2018 Advice to Defendant, First Appearance 1
11/3/2018 Affidavit of Insolvency and Indigency 1
11/3/2018 Notice of Invocation of Constitutional Rights 1

link: https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/...n6MHZ0udLIkz+xZNOL03UeFzbaR8t4Jbsm7g6YcQBu7g=

no court date yet.

 

[Trebor5591]

Cold case killing of Florida college student cracked thanks to DNA, genealogy database, police say

'I honestly never thought they would find him': DNA leads to arrest in 2001 killing

 

[Catmommy]

The article states the help of Parabon Nanolabs. I'm seeing more and more from this institute regarding using DNA to solve cold cases. This is great information for the family after these many years. May justice prevail.

 

[kaen]

I am impressed that the alleged killer's family participated in the narrowing down of the dna's source. A huge thanks to them. Glad that this woman's family can rest knowing her killer is found.

 

[dotr]

Maybe threads can be combined? One thread is listed under Christine, the other Christina so it may have been missed in the search function.
FL - Christine Franke, 25, UCF student, Orlando, shot in head, 21 Oct 2001

 

[dotr]

Cold case killing of Florida college student cracked thanks to DNA, genealogy database, police say
OPD is happy to announce that working in conjunction with FDLE, @ParabonSnapshot and genetic genealogists, we have made an arrest in the 2001 murder of Christine Franke.

The accused..

38-year-old Benjamin L. Holmes
'I honestly never thought they would find him': DNA leads to arrest in 2001 killing

 

[Niner]

Just checked the court site - nothing new since I last posted on it....

 

[Niner]

Looks like the DA re-filed charges for 2nd degree murder....

Date Description Pages Doc Request
Doc
11/21/2018 Memorandum 1
11/21/2018 Information Filed 1

for Info filed:
Orange County Clerk of Courts Records Search


and Memorandum:
Orange County Clerk of Courts Records Search


and no next court date listed....

 

[Niner]

Date Description Pages Doc Request

12/10/2018 In Jail Arraignment - Whitehead, Reginald K 8:15 AM


link: https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/...MlL3uhRGHBxKBCUw/Eju5d0hyPfBtx4YOIi5X2RJaOYo=

 

[YESorNO]

Vero Beach family hopes for justice in UCF student Christine Franke's 2001 killing in Orlando (with clip)

Nov. 27, 2018

"..."Christine was adventurous, crafty, full of life," Franke's mother said at the Vero Beach home on Brae Burn Circle to which she moved in 2009.

Tina Franke ran a finger over a framed picture of her daughter. "Just a happy, fun girl," she said....

"She was a free spirit, and she was never afraid to try anything," sister-in-law Karen Franke said. "She would be the first to go out there surfing or riding a dirt bike, or whatever the case. She just loved life.”

She was good with kids, family members said. She was studying to be an elementary school teacher at UCF when she died, just two months from graduation....

Police said it may be two years before the case goes to trial...."

Vero Beach family hopes for justice in UCF student Christine Franke's 2001 killing in Orlando

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[JnRyan]

I wish Orlando PD could do this with the Jennifer Kesse case. Unfortunately, I believe they only have partial DNA.

 

[Niner]

Monday, Dec. 10th:
*Arraignment Hearing – (@ 8:15am ET) – FL - Christine Franke (25) (Oct. 21, 2001, Orlando, shot in head) - *Benjamin Lee Holmes, Jr. (38/21 @ time of crime) arrested & charged (11/2/18) with 2nd degree murder with a firearm & robbery with a firearm.
Parabon NanoLabs Snapshot DNA Phenotyping & GEDMatch
11/6/18: Defense files Notice of Intent to Participate in Discovery.
11/21/18: DA re-files charges from 1st degree murder to 2nd degree murder with a firearm (Mandatory Sentence: Life). Arraignment hearing set for 12/10.

 

[Niner]

Docket:
Date Description Pages Doc Request
Doc
4/1/2019 HEARING - Trial - White, Keith F

3/19/2019 HEARING - Pre-Trial Conference - White, Keith F

2/18/2019 HEARING - CANCELED-Cancelled Pre-Trial Conference - White, Keith F
12/13/2018 Order Setting Pre-Trial Conference
Comments: AMENDED

12/10/2018 Order Setting Pre-Trial Conference
12/10/2018 HEARING - In Jail Arraignment - Whitehead, Reginald K


Hearings:
Date Hearing Time Location Pages Doc
4/1/2019 Trial - White, Keith F 9:00 AM Room 6-A On the 6th Floor

3/19/2019 Pre-Trial Conference - White, Keith F 1:30 PM Room 6-A On the 6th Floor

2/18/2019 CANCELED-Cancelled Pre-Trial Conference - White, Keith F 1:30 PM Room 6-A On the 6th Floor

12/10/2018 In Jail Arraignment - Whitehead, Reginald K 8:15 AM Jail 3


link: https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/.../IXlQv2Cvl6zk8gzf4JFTAeacMY/K/OosUFsAtH2HVlE=

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, March 19th:
*Pretrial Hearing – (@ 1:30pm ET) – FL - Christine Franke (25) (Oct. 21, 2001, Orlando, shot in head) - *Benjamin Lee Holmes, Jr. (38/21 @ time of crime) arrested & charged (11/2/18) with 2nd degree murder with a firearm & robbery with a firearm. Plead not guilty.
Parabon NanoLabs Snapshot DNA Phenotyping & GEDMatch
11/6/18: Defense files Notice of Intent to Participate in Discovery.
11/21/18: DA re-files charges from 1st degree murder to 2nd degree murder with a firearm (Mandatory Sentence: Life). Arraignment hearing set for 12/10.
12/10/18 Update: Next pretrial hearing on 3/19, trial set for 4/1/19.

 

[Niner]

Docket:
2/20/2019 Order on Defense's Motion to Continue Granted 1
2/20/2019 Motion for Continuance 1
2/20/2019 State's Exhibit in Evidence

Comments: #1-Composite-2 Photos #2-Composite-4 Photos #3-Diagram of Body #4-FDLE Report dated March 21, 2002 #5-FDLE Report dated November 2, 2018

2/20/2019 State Witness Sworn and Testified

Comments: 1. Det. Michael Fields

2/20/2019 Per the Court:

Comments: The court conducted an Arthur Hearing. The court found proof evident, presumption great. **Defendant will be held on No Bond**

2/20/2019 Court Minutes 1
2/20/2019 HEARING - Motion - White, Keith F (Actual: White, Keith F)



Date Hearing Time Location Pages Doc
8/19/2019 Trial - White, Keith F 9:00 AM Room 6-A On the 6th Floor

8/6/2019 Pre-Trial Conference - White, Keith F 1:30 PM Room 6-A On the 6th Floor

4/1/2019 CANCELED-Continued Trial - White, Keith F 9:00 AM Room 6-A On the 6th Floor

3/19/2019 CANCELED-Continued Pre-Trial Conference - White, Keith F 1:30 PM Room 6-A On the 6th Floor

link: https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/...EvnJY0K5BUHskKTB6RFSo3Fv89mT2LSNhhL+dOjXjLq8=


I'll keep an eye out on the court site for a more current next hearing.