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Norwich — A prosecutor says a New York couple decided to kill their adoptive son and cover up the crime with a house fire after watching the movie Manchester by the Sea.
WBNG-TV reports Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride said during a bail hearing for Ernest and Heather Franklin last week that 16-year-old Jeffrey Franklin was killed within two hours of the couple watching the Oscar-winning film on 28 February. McBride said an examination showed the teen died before the fire.
The Franklins are charged with second-degree murder, arson and tampering with physical evidence.
Heather Franklin's attorney told the court that she's "innocent until proven guilty."
Manchester by the Sea tells the story of a man who accidentally sets a fire that kills his children. He wasn't prosecuted.
Watch the trailer here:
