Posted on 12/15/2005 9:15:27 AM PST by Smogger
FONTANA - Years of abuse suffered at the hands of her father failed to sway a judge Wednesday from sentencing Alma Frakes to 22 years in prison for the fatal shootings of her parents in their Bloomington home. When Frakes discovered her father had molested her teen-aged daughter, the 35-year-old woman snatched her boyfriend's .45-caliber Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistol and drove to the home of her parents Sept. 12, 2004, where she shot and killed them.
The family was wrought with incest, deception, lying and manipulation, Frakes has said, and she and her five sisters all suffered molestation at the hands of their parents, William Frakes, 80, and Alba Frakes, 71.
Her older sister, Develyn Sperling, dabbed at watery eyes when she realized her baby sister would not be coming home anytime soon.
"She's paying for the sins of her parents, and it's wrong. It's just wrong," said the 52-year-old San Bernardino woman. "I understand being held responsible for her actions, but not to this extent."
Deputy District Attorney Briye McCann agreed that evidence of abuse shortened Frakes' sentence - which could have been 50 years to life in prison - but said the abuse of Frakes' 14-year-old daughter was not the only motivation for the killings.
"These were not the upstanding citizens we would have liked but the defendant knew what she was doing was wrong when she did it," McCann told the court. "This was a calculated act."
The fact that Frakes continued driving her parents' red 1986 Ford after the shootings, did not return home for several days, disposed of the weapon and repeatedly denied killing her parents are evidence of a calculated crime, McCann said.
Two victim impact statements were read before Frakes' sentencing. One was faxed by Carrie Moos, a sister of Alma Frakes. Her statement asked the judge to keep in mind that their father was a child molester and "the abuse was mind, body and soul."
As Sperling stood to read her prepared statement, Frakes swiveled back and forth in her chair as she continually wiped her tears with a tissue, her eyes locked on her sister as she struggled to maintain composure.
"It was only out of love for her daughters that she took the steps she did," Sperling read, pleading with the judge to deliver the shortest term possible.
On Nov. 14, Frakes made a plea bargain for two counts of voluntary manslaughter, with enhancements for using a firearm. On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Keith A. Davis ordered her to spend 22 years in prison and pay close to $4,000 in restitution fees.
The case began with the moderately decomposed bodies of Alba and William Frakes. A co-worker of Alba Frakes became concerned when she didn't show up for her job as a clerk at a self-storage facility.
Both victims had multiple shots in the chest. Alba Frakes was found on the bedroom floor and her husband was discovered on the bathroom floor, a crack pipe still clutched in his hand.
Defense attorney Laura Hoffman told the judge she is disappointed with the probation officer's report because he failed to thoroughly investigate the "unique circumstances" of the case, referring to the sexual abuse spanning several decades and transcending generations.
Sperling contends that her father began raping her on a regular basis when she was 5 and that she bore him two children when she was 13 and 15.
"If these people were vulnerable, it was their own doing," argued Hoffman. "Any one of them (the sisters) could have pulled the trigger."
She admitted the crimes "involved great violence" but that it did not include "callousness," trying to convince the judge that Frakes is "a danger to no one."
Sperling said she and her sisters have suffered long enough and deserve a chance to begin the healing process, which will not be possible until Frakes is released from jail.
"For each day she serves in prison, it will only extend the years of suffering we have grown up with. I know that in my heart I will personally be serving each day with her," she said.
Sounds like she deserves a medal to me.
I noted that she shot and killed MOM too, as mom was the enabler who let dad do his heinous crimes. No protection at all for those poor girls. Imagine that, DAD molesting and MOM standing by her man...
Why? If her parents sexually molested her and her sisters, then why would she EVER allow either one of them anywhere near her teenage daughter? By allowing known child molestors the opportunity to be alone with her own daughter, she was complicit in the assault on her daughter that she claims as justification for committing patricide and matricide.
It sure seems like the rest of the family supports her claim and that's important to me as far as her credibility is concerned. I don't understand why this woman allowed her daughter to even be around these people and that troubles me. I agree with you, though, she should have been commended on the basis of "they needed killin'".
And I've never heard of an 80 year-old with a crack pipe or did I read that wrong?
Not hardly. She allowed her father access to her daughter, knowing what kind of person he was. She was an accessory before the fact to her daughter's molestation. She ought to be locked up for that alone.
I have no problem with her killing the bastard, but it doesn't make her any less evil.
Yeah, well this mom-of-the-year candidate didn't do much for her own teenage daughter if she allowed the contact of known child molestors with her own daughter.
Didn't read all the posts before replying. Got too worked up about the medal remark. But you are absolutely right.
The medal remark got my blood boiling too.
Sounds like a great family, don't it? Why an adult would maintain contact with such "parents" is quite beyond my comprehension.
What a tragedy -
Governor should commute it to 5 years -
That should serve as a wakeup call to all molesters.
More material for 'Law & Order: SVU'.
This is wrong, its not justice.
I didn't read in there where it said she "allowed" contact. It's not clear whether she didn't try to prevent contact.
Ones thing for sure, the old bastard won't be abusing any more young girls any time soon.
They deserved to be shot just for naming their daughters "Alma" and "Alba".
I wouldn't say she deserves a medal.... but 22 years for first degree murder of your own parents? That indicates the "thems needed killin'" defense is still viable in some circumstances.
Oops. Alba was the mother. My bad. Still, horrible names.
How do we know he ever abused anybody? Why does everyone assume women who murder men are telling the truth?
I personally know a woman in her mid-forties who was regularly abused by her parents from about age 12 until she moved out at around age 18. Her father would have both she and her mother in bed simultaneously -- just unimaginable.
The one sister bore her father two children?
I am so totally creeped out.
OOOhhh...a good one for Lifetime TV...
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