Daughter And Grandkids Charged With Murdering Elderly Man They Allegedly Pushed Down The Stairs

The daughter and two grandchildren of an elderly man have been charged with his murder after his fatal plunge down a flight of stairs.

Franklin Monaco, 77, died on Aug. 24, one week after allegedly falling down the stairs, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. Local and state authorities conducted an investigation after his wife told the 911 dispatcher that he had been pushed.

Franklin’s daughter, Cherie Monaco, 53, and Franklin’s grandchildren, Joseph Johnson, 19, and Angel Jones, 31, are currently booked at the Madison County Jail on charges of murder, first-degree burglary, and felony exploitation/inflicting pain/depriving essential services to a disabled or elderly person.

Charges were filed on Monday with the Northern Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

Officers from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at the Colbert, Georgia, residence on Aug. 17, according to a report cited by the Banner-Herald. Franklin’s wife, Rosaline Monaco, told 911 dispatchers that her husband “had been pushed down the stairs.”

The dispatcher reported that they heard screaming in the background of the call, according to the Banner-Herald. When deputies arrived, Franklin Monaco was unresponsive. Efforts to wake him were fruitless.

The outlet stated that one of the deputies reportedly observed multiple people in the home filming or taking pictures with their cell phones. It was unclear whether any of the suspects were among them.

Franklin Monaco was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries seven days later. 

Cherie Monaco’s husband allegedly said to deputies that Cherie told him Franklin went “berserk,” according to the Banner-Herald. Cherie claimed Franklin assaulted their daughter, Angel Jones, over a dispute about the mail.

The suspects are awaiting a bond hearing.

Neither the sheriff’s office nor the district attorney’s office has responded to calls from Oxygen.com.