Son, Daughter Fight Over Mom’s Situation Pair Faces Criminal Charges In Pend Oreille County In Wake Of Fight

There’s a gloomy postscript to the story of a Spokane woman whose life-support machine was nearly turned off two weeks ago because she didn’t pay her electricity bill.

Marilyn Franck’s son and daughter face criminal charges in Pend Oreille County stemming from a fight they got into concerning her plight.

Sheriff’s reports indicate they struck each other, and the son pulled out a pistol when a neighbor came to help the sister.

On July 11, The Spokesman-Review reported that Washington Water Power Co. almost shut off power to their 57-year-old mother, a low-income heart patient. WWP relented when her doctor’s nurse insisted Franck needs electricity to run her oxygen machine.

Donald Franck Jr., 28, of Colville told authorities he was so upset by the story that he and his wife, Brenda, drove to the Newport area to talk to his sister, Donna, 36.

Franck said he and his wife were prepared to take his mother into their home.

But authorities said Franck told his sister she would have to take responsibility for her 16-year-old daughter, who lives with their mother.

A heated argument developed, said Pend Oreille County Deputy Prosecutor Mike Carbone.

Donna Franck is to be arraigned Aug. 1 on a charge of fourth-degree domestic violence. Her brother will be arraigned Aug. 8 on a charge of illegally displaying a weapon.

Both counts are gross misdemeanors, usually punishable by no more than a few days in jail.

, DataTimes