In the small town of Aplington, Iowa, a sense of unease began to settle on the morning of January 18, 1983. A friend of the Franken family, Dalene Tjabring, had arranged to take Ethel Mae Franken to a psychiatrist appointment in Waterloo. When she arrived at their home and received no answer at the door, a feeling of concern prompted her to contact the authorities.
What was discovered inside would forever scar the quiet community.
Police Chief Tom Lines entered the Franken residence to conduct a welfare check and found a scene of unimaginable tragedy. The entire family had been victims of a violent end. Darrell Franken, 37, his wife Ethel Mae, 33, and their three children, Troy, 13, Valerie, 11, and 7-year-old White male, Dustin Jon, were all found deceased in their bedrooms. Each had been shot with a small-caliber handgun. The children were discovered in their nightclothes, suggesting the horrific events unfolded as they slept.
The investigation that followed pointed to a conclusion that was both tragic and deeply unsettling for those who knew the family. Evidence at the scene led the Butler County Medical Examiner to believe that Ethel Mae Franken, who had been struggling with her mental health and had recently been under psychiatric care, was responsible for the deaths of her husband and children before taking her own life. The gun was found on the bed next to her. Neighbors described the Frankens as "good hard-working people with nice kids," making the shocking event all the more difficult to comprehend.
In the end, the official investigation concluded that the deaths of Dustin Franken and his family were the result of a murder-suicide perpetrated by Ethel Mae Franken. No other suspects were ever identified, and no arrests were made, as the person deemed responsible was also deceased. The community of Aplington was left to mourn the loss of an entire family and grapple with the devastating impact of mental health struggles that culminated in a tragic loss of life.
