Girl in the Picture: Where is Franklin Delano Floyd now?
The murderer is the subject of Netflix’s latest true crime
Netflix’s newest true crime documentary, Girl in the Picture, tells the story of a young woman’s fight to find her true identity. We soon find out her “dad” – Franklin Delano Floyd – isn’t everything he seems.
In 1990, 20-year-old Tonya Hughes was found dead in a supposed hit-and-run. She left behind her husband, Clarence, and two-year-old son, Michael. After repeatedly being denied custody over Michael, Clarence kidnapped him – leading to a long chain of events in which several secrets are revealed.
So, who is Clarence Hughes? What’s he got to do with Franklin Delano Floyd? And, most importantly, where is Floyd now?
Who is Clarence Hughes?
Clarence Hughes was the husband of Tonya Hughes. At the time of her death, hospital staff noted how much older he was than her. Hughes appeared to be in his early-to-mid fifties, while Tonya was barely an adult.
The pair had a baby boy together – Michael Anthony Hughes – who was just a toddler when his mum was found dead. Child Protection Services put Michael in foster care, after it was suspected foul play was involved in Tonya’s death.
Michael was brought up by Merle and Earnest Bean, while Clarence fought constantly for access to his son. According to Girl in the Picture, Michael didn’t even like his short visits with his “dad.”
In order to get Clarence to back down, and for Merle and Earnest to formally adopt Michael, the court ordered a paternity test. In a shocking turn of events, they found out Clarence was not actually the child’s biological dad.
Four years after Tonya’s death, Clarence forced his way into Michael’s school, threatening the principal at gunpoint. He kidnapped the six-year-old and went on the run for two months. When he was finally caught, Michael was nowhere to be seen.
What’s the connection between Hughes and Floyd?
Okay, this is where things get complicated. Shortly after Hughes was arrested for the kidnap of Michael, it was discovered that “Clarence Hughes” was a fake name – one of many, in fact.
In reality, Clarence Hughes’ real name was Franklin Delano Floyd. He was known to many as the father of Tonya Hughes, not her husband. And Tonya’s real name was thought, at the time, to be Sharon Marshall.
Franklin Floyd’s criminal history revealed him to be a convicted paedophile, who had abused Tonya/Sharon for years.
So, where is Franklin Floyd now?
Before he could be sentenced, Floyd had to be investigated for the murder of Cheryl Ann Commesso – Sharon’s friend and colleague at the strip club she worked at. He was found to have severely beaten her, before shooting her twice in 1989.
In 2001, Floyd was convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to death. Currently, though, he remains alive and living in prison.
The investigation into the whereabouts of Michael continued on for years. Until finally, in 2014, Floyd admitted to killing Michael the same day he kidnapped him. He also told the police the real name of Tonya Hughes/Sharon Marshall: Suzanne Sevakis. In reality, Floyd wasn’t her dad at all.
As of writing this, Floyd remains at the Union Correctional Institution in Florida. He’s 79 years old.
Girl in the Picture is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops, quizzes and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook.
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Featured image via Netflix.