On a cold January day in 1983, the small town of Aplington, Iowa, was shaken by a devastating tragedy that unfolded within the Franken family home. White eleven-year-old Valerie May Franken, along with her older brother Troy, 13, and younger brother Dustin, 7, were found deceased in their residence. Their parents, Darrell Franken, 37, and Ethel Mae Franken, 33, were also discovered dead at the scene.
The grim discovery was made on January 18, 1983, after a family friend, Dalene Tjabring,
arrived at the home to take Ethel to a scheduled appointment with a psychiatrist. When no one answered the door, and with the children absent from the elementary school located just across the street, concern grew, leading to the eventual entry into the house where the five bodies were found.
Subsequent investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation revealed the tragic event to be a murder-suicide. It was determined that Ethel Mae Franken, who had recently been under psychiatric care and had been hospitalized for a nervous breakdown, was the perpetrator. Evidence indicated that she used a small-caliber handgun to shoot her husband and their three children before turning the weapon on herself.
The bodies were found in the bedrooms of the family's home. Ethel was discovered in her bed with the gun beside her, while her husband, Darrell, was found on the floor nearby. The children were located in adjacent rooms. The motive for the horrific act was believed to be connected to Ethel's mental health struggles. A brief suicide note was found, expressing her concerns for her children's future. The community of Aplington was left in shock and disbelief over the loss of the entire Franken family. As the investigation concluded that Ethel Mae Franken was solely responsible for the deaths, no other suspects were sought, and no arrests were made in the case.
