On September 23, 2020, the body of 21-year-old Michael Taborris Givens was discovered in the Brazil Homes area of Greenwood, Mississippi. Givens, a resident of Greenwood, had been visiting a friend in the area when he was fatally shot. The Leflore County Sheriff's Department was called to the scene and promptly opened an investigation into his death.
During their investigation, detectives interviewed multiple individuals to piece together the events that led to Givens's death and to identify any potential suspects. Their inquiries eventually led them to a friend of Givens, Vonta Franklin. During questioning, Franklin confessed to shooting Givens.
Following his confession, Vonta Franklin, who was 21 years old at the time of the sentencing, was indicted by a Leflore County Grand Jury on a charge of first-degree murder. However, on August 1, 2023, just as his trial was set to begin, Franklin chose to plead guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder before Senior Circuit Judge Ashley Hines. Judge Hines sentenced Franklin to 35 years with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He is required to serve 30 of those years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, and will not be eligible for early release or parole.
