Couple attacked by Cpl. Heacook’s murderer pass away

Image: Short Funeral Home

DELMAR, Del. – The husband and wife who survived an attack by the man who murdered Corporal Keith Heacook in 2021 have passed away.

77-year-old Steven Franklin and his wife, 79-year-old Judith Franklin, both passed away on July 18th. The pair married in June 1967 and lived in Silver Spring, Maryland, for many years before retiring and relocating to Delmar, Delaware.

The two were viciously attacked by Randon Wilkerson during the early morning hours of April 26, 2021, before Wilkerson beat Corporal Heacook, who responded to the call. Heacook was pronounced dead a few days later.

Steven Franklin loved animals and spent much of his free time in the last few years of his life volunteering at the Humane Society of Wicomico County. The Humane Society took to social media on Monday to comment on his passing, saying, “It is with great sadness that our shelter learned of the passing of one of our most dedicated volunteers. Steve spent multiple days a week making our dog’s lives better as well as supporting the shelter and our mission. He was a huge Pitbull advocate and made it his mission to walk the biggest and strongest that we had. Our shelter family has lost one of the best, but he has left us with some great memories.”