Northwest

Teen Arrested in Oakland Park Murder

Nicole Franco, 19, was found dead in her Oakland Park apartment in June.

Police announced Monday that they have arrested a 15-year-old in the June murder of 19-year-old Nicole Franco.

The suspect, who NBC 6 is not naming because the person is a minor, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office. The suspect was on house arrest for a probation violation at the time of the murder.

Franco was found June 3 at the Bridgewater Place apartments at 2800 Northwest 44th Street after she called 911 to report a burglary.

“We will never see our baby girl walk down the aisle, never live to see precious grandchildren,” said Franco’s mom, Teri Franco.

Investigators said that just before 3:30 a.m., the suspect went into Franco's apartment, armed with a knife from her kitchen.

“He stole her purse, took her wallet, and when he was about to leave the apartment, he stepped on her purse startling her and she got up, he stabbed her, and he fled the room,” said Detective Kevin Forsberg of the BSO.

The suspect watched as Franco called 911 before leaving and throwing her wallet into a lake behind the apartments, BSO said. Franco told 911 operators that someone broke into her house and beat her. She cried, said "no" once and then said nothing else, according to authorities.

Because she did not give 911 operators a unit number during the call, deputies had to go door-to-door to find the scene. When they arrived, they found a sliding door had been forced open at a ground floor apartment. Franco's body was inside.

Investigators were able to locate the suspect by using DNA evidence found on Franco's comforter. The suspect was being held in a juvenile justice facility in Fort Myers on an unrelated matter. The suspect is being held at the Lee County Sheriff's Office jail and will be transferred to Broward County.

"I just need to ask him one question, just, why? Why?" Teri Franco said. "His mother, my heart just goes out to her. This is her son’s life. It’s ruined. I know what that feels like."

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