Frank/Turner Family Update. . .

Unfortunately, from my limited resources I am not hearing very much about the progress of finding Albert Turner. The police are still looking obviously, but as each day passes the odds of capturing him slip a little more.

A couple of weeks ago, America's Most Wanted featured a small segment about the murders of Betty Jo Frank and Keitha Frank Turner. Those of us in the Jackson metro area did not get to see it because of all times and of all stations to go out, it couldn't have been more perfectly timed. Fox40 lost signal just before the end of the first half hour of the show. Talk about frustrating!

Apparently, AMW is going to show another segment about the murders and the latest on the whereabouts of Albert Turner. Please tune in tomorrow night to watch.

Also, don't forget that you can donate to the Turner Children's Educational Fund at this link. And keep praying for Darren and Gamila Frank and the unexpected and unfolding burden of raising an army of children.

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Frank Family Update. . .

3/5/2010 CAPTURED:  Click here!

Betty Jo Frank and Keitha Turner were laid to rest December 31, 2009 on a gray, chilly and dull afternoon. Although the skies were colored a sad granite and filled with leaden clouds, the sky on the inside of the Church of Living Waters was alive and filled with the celebration of two special lives.

On the evening before, some 2500 people showed to the church for visitation. According to many city officials, this was the largest turnout for a funeral in Rosenberg in recent memory, if not ever. Of course, this is the first murder in Rosenberg in five years, but that does not dilute the magnitude of the positive influence of the Frank family in this small, tight-knit community.

We waited in line for over two hours for the viewing on Wednesday night and many hundreds of people waited behind us. The sight of so many people coming together as a veritable cross section of the many races and cultures of Texas in support of the Frank family was beyond words to describe. And Pastor Gene, Betty Jo's husband and Keitha's father, stood strongly at the head of the line greeting, crying, witnessing and sharing in the grief and absolute misery of others. I spoke with Pastor for only a moment and explained my brief encounters with Betty Jo which I ended with "she was a wonderful woman." Pastor Frank, his grip firm and eyes remarkably clear replied, "She still is." A true man of the Lord, no doubt.

During the funeral service the somber mood was brightened by glorious music, prayer, humorous anecdotes and a rousing sermon by Paul Vick. His choice to deliver God's message to the Frank family was simple. He was the only one who could preach as loudly as Betty Jo could. And boy did he.

In retrospect, and even as a relative outsider, I found myself caught up in the emotion and shed a tear as many of the congregation did, but I left with a renewed feeling about the sanctity of life, the importance of family and friends, but maybe most importantly, a new-found appreciation for the warmth and healing nature of humanity. It is all too easy to become insulated from the harsh realities of life as we work, go home, eat, sleep, repeat, and it was an eye-opening experience to be a part of such a wonderful outpouring of unadulterated, pure and sincere emotion. Through it all, my eyes have been opened to the truer meaning of life: you really must live each day as your last and all the similar time-worn cliches as such. Because you never never, never ever know when it will be your last day here. Make it worth living now before it is gone tomorrow.

As for the Keitha's children, they are in the loving arms of their Uncle Darren and surrounded by countless family members and friends. Although they have their whole lives ahead of them I can only imagine that the future is a puzzling and fuzzy orb of nothingness for them. I pray for their deliverance through these difficult times.

The Church of Living Waters has set up a college fund for the children and another fund to provide for immediate expenses, funeral arrangements, etc. Please visit their website and donate if you can. Your donation will not go unnoticed I assure you.

I would like to personally thank the community of Rosenberg for sharing in the celebration of two special women and the many people behind the scenes at the Church of Living Waters for providing such outreach and inclusion for the event. Just phenomenal!

Also, I would like to thank Rich from The World of Greasywrench, Jill from Pundit and Pundette, Breada from The Breda Fallacy and John from Love's Laughing Locksmith for sharing this story with their readers and by virtue of that, sharing it with the world. I've had over 1500 people come by because of you all and it is my hope that this traffic helps lead to the capture and prosecution of Albert Turner. Please stop by and pay them all a visit to say thanks.

As for Mr. Turner, he is still on the run, but the longer he runs the more likely he is going to run out of time and luck. The Houston Chronicle is reporting that U.S. Marshals are stepping up effort to find him and he will be featured on America's Most Wanted next week.

Thanks again everyone and here is a link about the funeral of the Franks.

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A Christmas Prayer. . .

3/5/2010 CAPTURED:  Click here!

1/4/2010: I am posting no further updates on this post. All new updates will be individual posts. Click the Burning Toast Banner above or here to refresh.

Scroll down for updates:

With great sadness and a heavy heart I share this unfortunate story:

I spent the Christmas holidays in Texas with Beatrice and her family. In the early hours of Sunday morning we received a phone call from her best friend that there had been a family tragedy. In fact, it was beyond tragedy. Beatrice's friend, who I shall call Emily, called to inform us that her mother-in-law, Betty Jo Frank, and Betty Jo's daughter, Keitha Frank Turner, had been viciously murdered that evening by Keitha's husband, Albert Turner.

Obviously, the shock of the murders have left an indelible mark on us, the Frank family and the community. I've met Betty Jo on a couple of occasions and she was an affable, likable and filled-to-the-brim, fine Christian woman. The first time Betty Jo and I met was last year when I was cooking dinner in Beatrice's kitchen and she hammered me (in a positive way) with a long list of culinary questions and the inevitable request for future culinary guidance. Unfortunately now, that will never come to pass.

I can't say I knew much about the Franks from my encounters with Betty Jo, but I, as everyone else, am learning more and more each day as the investigation goes on. The Franks, Betty Jo and her husband Gene, founded their own church in Rosenberg called the Church of the Living Waters and later, a Christian School called Living Water Christian School where daughter Keitha taught school.

This is not the forum to share the gritty details of the deaths, but I will say that the children were witness to an extremely violent scene of domestic violence perpetrated (allegedly!?) by their father. You can read all about it here, here, here and here if you wish.

Keitha leaves behind 4 children and a family stunned by the tremendous loss, including her father, Pastor Gene, a man with an empty and undoubtedly broken heart who was also injured during the assault. Tragically, Pastor Gene lost his son some months ago in a sad, but fatal accident that the Turner family was still reeling from.

It is hard to fathom why such a respected, well-rounded and Christian family would have to suffer such burdens, but the allegory of Job from the Old Testament explains:

Job 4:3-11

3 Think how you have instructed many,
how you have strengthened feeble hands.

4 Your words have supported those who stumbled;
you have strengthened faltering knees.

5 But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged;
it strikes you, and you are dismayed.

6 Should not your piety be your confidence
and your blameless ways your hope?

7 "Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
Where were the upright ever destroyed?

8 As I have observed, those who plow evil
and those who sow trouble reap it.

9 At the breath of God they are destroyed;
at the blast of his anger they perish.

10 The lions may roar and growl,
yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.

11 The lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

I can only hope that Pastor Gene and the rest of his family can find the strength of Job to overcome the emotional burden of these terrible events. As for Albert, I hope the God's breath destroys his hopes for living as a free man.

I have been informed that his car was discovered in Georgia and they now believe that Albert is on foot. One can only wish for a swift capture so that justice can be served, although no decision of law will ever be able to replace the loss suffered by the Frank family and the community of Rosenberg.

If anyone has seen this man, please inform the local authorities immediately. He should be considered armed and dangerous.


I ask that everyone please say a prayer for the Frank family and all those impacted by this senseless and unfortunate event. I will post more updates as I learn more. Thank you.

UPDATE: A report from Atlanta on the recovery of Albert Turner's car.
UPDATE: Houston Chronicle article about the car.
UPDATE: Memorial service information and guestbook for family and friends here.
UPDATE: Latest report from Atlanta.
UPDATE: A Fox News video report concerning the found automoblie.
UPDATE: Fort Bend Herald obituary for Keitha Frank Turner and Betty Jo Frank.

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