WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | 911 tape of Newberry woman who killed husband in self defense

911 tape of Newberry woman who killed husband in self defense

(Newberry County) January 29, 2007 - News 10 has obtained the 911 call from a Newberry County woman who said she killed her husband.

We've transcribed the exact words Cynthia Franklin told a dispatcher when she said her husband was beating her and that she killed him to save her life.

Dispatcher: Newberry County 911. 
CF: Yes, ma'am, this is Cynthia Franklin.

Cynthia Franklin dialed 911 from home Friday night.

CF: My husband's been drinking and he started beating me up. He started hitting me on top of the head with a big old stick.

Cynthia told the dispatcher her husband Dennis was so enraged, she thought he'd kill her. So, she said she fought back.

CF: He's on the floor in my bedroom and I shot him. 
Dispatcher: You shot him? 
CF: Um-Hm. I had to. He was killing me. 
Dispatcher: Ok. 
CF: No, this is self defense!

Cynthia said she shot her husband dead in their bedroom with a gun they kept for protection.

"She was beaten bad," says Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster. "He was capable to continue, and I don't feel she had any other choice."

Sheriff Foster says Cynthia has injuries to her head, arms and back. He also says charges against her are unlikely.

Cynthia is in her late 50s. Her husband was in his 60s. Investigators say the couple was married 40 years and had four daughters. But reports show Friday night wasn't the first time Cynthia called 911 from their home.

Officers arrested Dennis Franklin in 1999 for making a threat against Cynthia. Records show Cynthia did not want to press charges, telling investigators she was "stuck" because she relied on her husband's insurance for medicine she needed for her heart. 

Dennis Franklin went to an anger class, and charges were dismissed.

Fast forward to Friday, when Cynthia thought she was so hurt, she might die.

CF:If I don't make it would you please tell my girls - I have 4 girls - I'm doing what I can. But will you tell them that I love them and I'm sorry this happened. I didn't know he was going to do this and he was set on killing me tonight.

She's now out of the hospital, recovering with her girls away from the place that was both her home and house filled with fear.

Reported by Jennifer Wilson

Posted 7:09pm by Logan Smith