Franklin Delano Floyd Confesses to Michael Hughes Murder

[hannahstohelit]

That documentary was EXCELLENT. It's interesting, seeing all the people who hadn't been familiar with the case now flipping out about how insane the story is. I know I learned a lot, though most of it I knew from following the case over time; I think the main brand new thing I learned was about her daughter Megan and the fact that she apparently had a third kid as well...?

I'm very intrigued about Suzanne's parents as well; the vibe I got from the way the creators arranged the clips is that the overall opinion of the people involved is that they (the filmmakers, and maybe the other people involved) don't trust the mom. Otherwise I think they would have framed things differently in terms of who they quoted when. The dad I'm a bit more confused about.

TBH the documentary made me wonder if Michael might actually be alive, though I doubt it. It's very sweet and heartwarming that Megan named her son after him. It was also interesting seeing how devoted Suzanne/Sharon/Tonya clearly was to Michael, and yet the image of neglect that his foster parents gave over in their interview. That was clearly a terrible home to grow up in, and it seems as though Suzanne had a limited amount of agency in terms of how she was allowed to care for him and likely didn't know what "normal" was supposed to be like. I'm impressed that she was able to make it through high school, and presumably middle school before that, as functionally as she did, and had the emotional bandwidth to become the wonderful friend it sounded like she was.

[Huskerz85]

The documentary was a good one. I do feel sorry for her mom too - up to a point though. Yeah, her interview ended rather abruptly, but if she really cared, she would've cultivated some ties with her granddaughter who was shown. The fact that she didn't and just shut her out entirely (according to the foster mom) tells me all I need to.

Hopefully Floyd will get his sooner rather than later as well.

[dynoguy88]

Originally Posted by hannahstohelit

I'm impressed that she was able to make it through high school, and presumably middle school before that, as functionally as she did, and had the emotional bandwidth to become the wonderful friend it sounded like she was.

Indeed. That's what struck me the most while reading the book. How she managed all those years growing up with the constant sexual abuse by a monster who was also playing a "father figure" to her and yet she was such a wonderful friend who seemed to have it completely all together when she was outside that trailer. She had the admiration of all her teachers. She got straight A's. This was a girl who dreamed of working for NASA!

One of the biggest 'what if' moments of the saga is the fact that she got a full ride scholarship to Georgia Tech. And when she was accepted, Floyd originally said, 'yes,' to her going. He even took out a whole page for her in her yearbook (as shown in the documentary) saying she was GT bound. But those plans all changed shortly later when she found out she was pregnant with Michael. Once that happened, college plans were scrapped and he forced her to become a stripper after giving birth to make income while he contributed nothing.

What if she hadn't gotten pregnant at that time? If she goes off to college in Atlanta (which is a 90 minute drive away) Floyd no longer has complete control over her 24 hours a day. He can't abuse her. She gets to be around normal people, build a friendship base with contacts and his grasp on her is significantly loosened. He can't have her wait on him daily and cook his meals like he always forced her to. He's stuck having to fend for himself. And I just can't picture that.

There's too many what if moments tied to this entire story. Too many instances that might have set a different course of events if she had asked for help. Very tragic.

[JenniferS.]

Last update I heard is they located missing brother of Susan. Floyd lied about killing him. Maybe he lied about Michael Hughes too.

[drew790]

Originally Posted by SPD Yellow

I thought the part of the Netflix documentary with the former friend of Suzanne’s who criticized Suzanne’s Mom was kind of interesting. I thought I’d see what the rest of you thought about it. The friend herself was kidnapped as a child for five years, but was eventually found thanks in part to her mother who pretty much pounded the pavement constantly and did everything she could to keep her case in the public eye. Hence why she criticized Suzanne’s Mom. I’d post a clip, but I have no idea how to do so.

I thought that part was dumb. The police refused to get involved, and getting on TV was not an easy task. Happy it worked out for her and her mom but those opportunities are not equal, plentiful or guaranteed. Her mom was lucky.

[drew790]

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

Indeed. That's what struck me the most while reading the book. How she managed all those years growing up with the constant sexual abuse by a monster who was also playing a "father figure" to her and yet she was such a wonderful friend who seemed to have it completely all together when she was outside that trailer. She had the admiration of all her teachers. She got straight A's. This was a girl who dreamed of working for NASA!

One of the biggest 'what if' moments of the saga is the fact that she got a full ride scholarship to Georgia Tech. And when she was accepted, Floyd originally said, 'yes,' to her going. He even took out a whole page for her in her yearbook (as shown in the documentary) saying she was GT bound. But those plans all changed shortly later when she found out she was pregnant with Michael. Once that happened, college plans were scrapped and he forced her to become a stripper after giving birth to make income while he contributed nothing.

What if she hadn't gotten pregnant at that time? If she goes off to college in Atlanta (which is a 90 minute drive away) Floyd no longer has complete control over her 24 hours a day. He can't abuse her. She gets to be around normal people, build a friendship base with contacts and his grasp on her is significantly loosened. He can't have her wait on him daily and cook his meals like he always forced her to. He's stuck having to fend for himself. And I just can't picture that.

There's too many what if moments tied to this entire story. Too many instances that might have set a different course of events if she had asked for help. Very tragic.

Ad aside, I don't think he'd have let her go or be free.

"Who'd take care of daddy?" It's all about them.