A Wisconsin woman was arrested and charged with arson after allegedly setting fire to her ex-boyfriend's barn in Sturgeon Bay, authorities said. Donna Jo Franklin, 59, stands accused of one count of arson of a building without the owner's consent — with an enhanced penalty because the victim is elderly, according to Door County court records.
Background
The incident occurred on June 10 on North 8th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, a small town approximately 45 miles northeast of Green Bay. Police and firefighters responded to the scene just before 9 p.m., where they found the barn engulfed in flames. The structure did not house animals, and no one was present on the property at the time, according to a press release from the Sturgeon Bay Police Department.
Investigators determined the fire was "suspicious" after examining the scene alongside fire officials. The investigation revealed that the blaze started on the north side of the barn — a detail that raised red flags because that section contained no electrical boxes, police said.
The barn owner told investigators he had recently broken up with his girlfriend and that Franklin had originally planned to move out on June 14 but departed early on June 6 after removing nearly all supplies and food from the property. The man said he had told her to take whatever she wanted because most of it belonged to her anyway.
The Charges
Franklin was arrested and charged on Monday following an investigation into the fire, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Green Bay-based CBS affiliate WFRV.
Police say Franklin initially feigned ignorance when first interviewed, claiming she enjoyed spending time at the barn while looking at nature. When questioned about her whereabouts that day, she allegedly said she worked there in the morning, went home, attended bingo night, and ended the evening at Culver's restaurant — a Midwestern chain known for burgers and frozen custard.
During a second interview on June 15, Franklin changed her story, now claiming she only visited the property to borrow an extension cord and estimated she was there for about five minutes. She allegedly insisted she would never intentionally damage the property because she had invested her own "blood and sweat" in it, explaining that at one point she and the victim intended to turn the property into their residence — what she reportedly called her "dream."
When investigators questioned Franklin about an item she discarded at Culver's, she initially claimed it was merely a napkin and tissue. After repeated questioning, authorities say she responded: "You can charge me now, because you know what it was." At another point, she allegedly said: "Just arrest me."
Franklin eventually confessed to throwing away a red "flicker" — a fire-starting device — that she allegedly used to ignite insulation paper at the barn. Once the fire spread, she drove to Culver's and discarded the flicker, police said.
Key Takeaways
- Donna Jo Franklin, 59, has been charged with one count of arson of a building without the owner's consent in Door County Circuit Court
- The charge carries an enhanced penalty due to the victim being elderly
- Franklin allegedly confessed after initially providing investigators with multiple false narratives about her whereabouts
- Police say she admitted to using a fire-starting device to ignite insulation paper at the barn before going to Culver's for dinner
- Investigators allege her motive stemmed from discovering text messages to another woman on her ex-boyfriend's phone, which destroyed her "dream" of turning the property into their shared residence
What's Next
Franklin remains in custody in Door County Jail pending further proceedings. Her next court appearance has not yet been scheduled. The case is being prosecuted by the Door County District Attorney's Office.
"If she could not have the dream, then another woman was not going to get the dream either," investigators said Franklin allegedly told them during her confession.