You must have seen a lot of talk going on about the Savannah Three Lawsuit because this case is actually super interesting, and sure enough, it shows what the impact of one family member having a bad record can bring to other members as well. So just keep on reading because things get really interesting.
How Did This Whole “Savannah Three” Situation Even Start?
Before anything else, we must say that yes, this whole thing actually has a lot to do with one person or is connected to him very deeply, and yes, we’re talking about none other than Franklin Leonard James Sr., a native of Savannah.
By the way, he’s 46 now, but his story started making headlines already in 2011 when a police chase ended in a tragic crash. This is the part that not a lot of people are getting right with this new lawsuit or case.
But still, going a bit into the backstory, see, as per the police during that chase, James Sr. allegedly ran a red light, hit an elderly man riding a motorcycle, and then crashed into a car with a pregnant woman in it. And unfortunately, that woman’s baby didn’t survive, and sure enough, when something like this has happened, he had to have gotten the conviction, and that’s pretty much what followed, where James Sr. was convicted of vehicular homicide along with other charges.
Because of all this, he did or spent about 11 years in a state prison, and then he was released in May 2024. He could have been thinking that his problems were all over and now he’s just a free man, but in reality, his problems didn’t start chasing him even after all this.
How?
Right after he got freed, actually, just in a matter of one year, he got arrested three times once again, like from May 2024 to June 2025. And just in case, what the specific matters were, see, to be specific here, one time in a school-related argument, one time for running away from the police again, and the last time he was charged with drug and property damage offenses.
And yup, this is exactly where his two teenage sons come into the picture, and you might not have seen or heard about a story like this before.
The First Son: A Teen Caught in the Oglethorpe Mall Shooting
First, let’s talk about the oldest son, Franklin Leonard James Jr., 17, who is often called “King” by his family.
Since his dad was arrested just in June 2025 again, there was a shooting at Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah. And sure enough, King’s name came up in this among six people, and as per the police, it was like a robbery escalated into a killing.
And just to let you know how serious this matter is, he is charged with a huge 71-count indictment that includes felony murder for the death of a woman who was Olislene “Tina” Smith, besides a bunch of gang-related charges.
The Younger Son: The Bloomingdale Apartment Murder
And then, just one year younger than King, there is Franklin Leonard James Jr., 16, who goes by the nickname “Frank”.
Just recently, like on December 14, 2025, some police officers were dispatched to a call down there in Bloomingdale, Georgia, at around 7.43 am in the morning. It was a call that reported a body being found outside the Magnolia Lane Apartments.
And just like his brother and father, he was linked to this case along with a 17-year-old boy, and this time, both were charged with:
- Felony murder
- Aggravated assault
- Armed robbery
- Possession of a firearm during a felony
Obviously, when three members of the same family are involved in such gruesome cases, no doubt, it went viral, and they’re being referred to as “The Savannah Three” on the internet right now.
