VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — More than a year after 8-year-old Michael Millett was mauled to death by dogs, the case against the dogs’ owners may not go to trial until next year. Amanda Franco and Brandy Hodil Franco appeared in court together for the first time since they were charged more than a year ago. They are each facing tampering with evidence charges and could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
Investigators accused the women of deleting messages about their dogs, including discussions about whether the dogs were dangerous. Investigators said those dogs later mauled Michael to death as he rode his bike through his gated neighborhood.
Michael’s mother, Tiffany Connell, said she wants the case to go to trial so the defendants have to sit through the evidence and confront what happened to her son.
“I want them to have to sit there and hear all the evidence because if there’s a plea then they don’t have to endure that,” Connell said. “I want them to have a little bit of pain.”
During a hearing, defense attorneys said new evidence surfaced during depositions and is still being reviewed. That evidence includes video showing the dogs in the neighborhood on the day Michael was killed, as well as screenshots of the messages the owners are accused of deleting.
The defense said the eventual trial could last up to three weeks and may not happen until next year. The timeline frustrated Judge Kathleen McNeilly, who questioned why the case continues to generate additional evidence and discovery.
“Honestly, every time we were coming to court I was seeing more discovery, more discovery,” McNeilly said.
Connell remains skeptical that the new evidence fully explains the delay.
“I’m not sure if that’s exactly what it is or if it’s to just keep dragging it out,” she said. “I feel like they’ve had everything.”
Connell said her family will accept nothing less than a jury trial.
Both defendants face up to 5 years in prison if convicted of tampering with evidence. Franco is also facing a misdemeanor charge under Florida’s dangerous dog law.
Franco is out on bond. Hodil Franco was arrested on drug charges two weeks ago and is being held without bond at the Volusia Branch Jail.
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