Remains of Opal Jennings Possibly Found

NBC 5 (Dallas) ^

[Lunatic Fringe]

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Officers search a brushy field in northwest Fort Worth for human bones for the fourth straight day Friday after a skull was found.

Investigators are not confirming whether the child's remains are those of Opal Jo Jennings, who was abducted when she was 6 years old, but NBC 5 reports police have contacted Jennings' family.

Jennings was abducted from her nearby Saginaw home in 1999.

[sinkspur]

Drag the bastard in Huntsville out for another trial, this time for murder.

He kidnapped her, likely raped her, and killed her.

The little grandmother is likely to be grateful that she's been found, but she's been holding out hope for five years that Opal was alive.

Murderers of children should be hung, the morning after a trial.

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[trussell]

Here is a picture of Opal Jo from her web page

[wimpycat]

Poor baby!

[GeronL]

it hasn't been confirmed because the tests aren't back... if its not her the media will have more egg on their faces.

[sinkspur]

It's her. They found a Barbie tennis shoe, which Opal Jo was wearing when she disappeared.

The Medical Examiner has all but officially declared that the remains, such as they are, belong to Opal Jo Jennings.

[GeronL]

Murderers of children should be hung, the morning after a trial

The morning after?? why wait? Televise the execution in prime time and use it to warn predators not to mess with Texans.

[GeronL]

Barbir Tennis Shoes... forget the trial.... hang him now.

[CindyDawg]

Can you tell me about her? Someone is already in jail? Such a pretty little girl.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Well at least it happened in Texas and the guy will die. Hopefully he will have an accident in prison and they can save money on the trial.

[sinkspur]

Opal Jo Jennings was kidnapped from her grandmother's front yard, while she played with other children, on March 26, 1999. The children said she was shoved into a black truck.

Richard Lee Franks, doing life in Huntsville, Texas for kidnapping Opal Jo, admits to seeing her that morning, and "I gave her a ride to a convenience store." Franks owned a black Chevy pickup.

There is no doubt that Franks murdered this girl; now that her remains have been found, he will likely be tried for capital murder and be given the death penalty.

[auboy]

The morning after?? why wait? Televise the execution in prime time and use it to warn predators not to mess with Texans.

IMO, if it's good enough for Texans, it's good enough for the rest of us.

[Dallas59]

Bury him alive

Richard Lee "Ricky" Franks was arrested and charged with aggravated kidnaping and indecency with a child after admitting to authorities that he abducted six-year-old Opal Jennings.
Police say Opal was taken on March 26, 1999 from her home in Saginaw, Texas. At around 5:30 that evening, Opal was in her front yard playing with two other children when a man got out of his car, walked over to the group and grabbed Opal. Police say the man put the six-year-old in the front seat of his car and drove away.
The abductor was described to police as a white or Hispanic male with dark shoulder length hair, pulled into a ponytail. The suspect's car was described to police as a dark colored, possibly a Chrysler or Plymouth model.
The initial tip on Franks came from his probation officer. Police say the officer noticed in an April 1st probation meeting that Franks had cut his hair. The officer also noticed he was driving a car that matched the description of Opal's abductor. Frank's probation officer told the cops.
But by the time the information made its way to the investigating officers in the case, it was one of many leads. With the detectives from Saginaw forging through hundreds of leads, the Franks tip was not checked into for weeks.
Ultimately, when the cops noticed the similarities in Franks and the abductor, and that he had a criminal record, he became a suspect. To get him into custody so the officers could start their interrogation, Franks was picked up on an outstanding traffic warrant on August 17, 1999.
When he was questioned, Franks admitted that he was the man that took Opal from her front yard, but said that the six-year-old went with him willingly. Franks also told police that Opal attempted to initiate sexual contact with him.
Police and FBI searched for any trace of Opal around Franks' house and car and several areas around Saginaw. Opal has still not been found. Franks is currently being held in the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth on a $1.5 million bond.

[sinkspur]

Franks also told police that Opal attempted to initiate sexual contact with him.

As I recall, Franks' defense counsel tried an insanity defense, citing Ricky's low IQ.

Without a body, all the Tarrant County DA could do is put him in prison for kidnapping.

Now, he can go for capital murder.

[Amelia]

That is such a darling little girl. So sad.

[tapatio]

It is Opal.Here is a link to the article ttp://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/columnists/jragland/stories/010304dnmetragland.66ef3.html

[af_vet_1981]

Murderers of children should be hung, the morning after a trial.

Ah, so you do believe in a fair trial and fast hanging after all.

[af_vet_1981]

As I recall, Franks' defense counsel tried an insanity defense, citing Ricky's low IQ.

They should try the defense counsel as an accessory after the fact.

[Taliesan]

I can't read about these things without visceral anger since I had my son.