Bio

John W. Peoples Jr. was born on January 9, 1957. He grew up in Talladega County, Alabama. As he grew older, Peoples became known for being a handyman and for his involvement in his community. He had a history of working for people in the area, which included doing odd jobs and helping with home repairs. This connection to the community possibly influenced his relationships with local residents.

Peoples did not have a significant history of criminal activity before the events that would eventually lead to his notorious actions in the early 1980s. He seemed to lead an ordinary life, interacting with friends and neighbors. However, it was in July 1983 that he became involved in a tragic crime that would change his life forever.

On July 6, 1983, an incident took place that involved the Franklin family, which eventually led to Peoples' arrest just a few days later. Peoples was arrested five days after the crime, leading to a long legal process that concluded with his conviction. 

Murder Story

On July 6, 1983, John W. Peoples Jr. murdered three members of the Franklin family: Paul Franklin, Judy Franklin, and their 10-year-old son, Paul Jr., in Talladega County, Alabama. Paul Franklin was killed in his home after he refused to sell his vintage 1968 Corvette to Peoples and his cousin, Timothy Gooden. Peoples and Gooden then abducted Judy and her son from the house. The bodies of Paul Franklin and his family were later found in nearby woods.

Autopsies revealed that Judy and Paul Jr. were beaten to death with a rifle, while Paul Franklin's cause of death could not be determined due to decomposition. Before her abduction, Judy Franklin wrote Peoples’ name on a clothes hamper using an eyebrow pencil. This detail later helped investigators connect Peoples to the crime.

Five days after the murders, Peoples was arrested while trying to sell the Corvette. During questioning, he confessed to the murders and led law enforcement to the locations of the bodies. Gooden eventually pleaded guilty to capital murder and testified against Peoples in exchange for a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

In December 1983, Peoples was convicted of capital murder for the deaths of the Franklin family. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection in January 1984. Over the years, he made several appeals, but they were all denied.

On September 22, 2005, Peoples was executed by lethal injection. He did not request a final meal or offer an apology to the victims' families. His final words expressed hope that he had conducted himself with dignity during his time in prison.