A Racine woman who bought the gun that Lawrence Franklin, Jr used to kill his girlfriend and unborn child was charged today with one Felony Count of Straw Purchasing a Firearm. Kaliyah M. Patterson, 22. of Racine, faces 10 years in the Wisconsin Prison System if convicted.

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Lawrence G. Franklin, Jr was charged late yesterday, September 9, 2024, with two counts of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide, both as Repeaters and with the Dangerous Weapon Enhancers. Franklin was also charged with Possession of a Firearm By a Felon as a repeater, and four counts of Felony Bail Jumping, all as repeaters. He faces a mandatory minimum of life in prison, but a judge may allow for parole in 20 years.

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When Amiah, the victim, arrived at the hospital, doctor’s realized she was 8-months pregnant and performed an emergency c-section, but unfortunately, Honesti didn’t survive.

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Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Angelina Gabriele signed a $1.5 Million dollar arrest warrant for Franklin.

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According to police and prosecutors, Patterson was seen on surveillance camera buying the gun the same day from Paddock Lake Sporting Goods and accompanied by Franklin. Surveillance videos confirmed that the defendant provided Patterson with a credit card to purchase the firearm. The firearm, a Glock 19, was recovered near the scene of the double homicide. A trace on the gun revealed it was purchased the same day.

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Patterson was located and arrested in Racine the next day and gave a voluntary statement to detectives. She admitted that she bought the gun for Franklin but prosecutors don’t believe she was forthcoming with police. Patterson stated that Franklin asked her to pick him up at some point on the morning of September 6th. Patterson indicated that her and Franklin drove to Paddock Lake sporting goods.

She was the driver. Patterson indicated that Franklin directed her to the store because she didn’t know where it was. Patterson admitted that Franklin picked out the firearm. She filled out the federal firearm purchasing form indicating that she was the purchaser and that she had never been convicted with felony. Patterson admitted that Franklin paid for the purchase. Patterson also stated that Franklin provided her with $200 on her cash app that day. She denied there being a particular reason for Franklin giving her that money.

Patterson indicated that she did not know whether or not Franklin was a felon; however, she stated she knew that he had been arrested for domestic violence or battery related offenses. Patterson stated as she was driving back to Kenosha from Paddock Lake sporting goods, she saw a state trooper. Patterson stated that Franklin told her she didn’t have her CCW license so she couldn’t get caught with the gun so Franklin removed the firearm from the floorboard in front of where he was seated in her vehicle and brought it to the back-cargo area where she was driving.

Patterson admitted dropping Franklin off in the area of Amiah’s residence. Patterson stated that Franklin left right away and she stated that he was acting strange when he left. Patterson was asked where the gun she purchased was, and she stated that it should be in her car. Patterson was challenged on that statement and she then admitted she knew the firearm was not in her car.

She stated that Franklin had taken it and she knew it was in his possession. Patterson had not reported it stolen. Franklin has been convicted multiple times of felonies in state of Wisconsin. Those felony adult criminal convictions are of record and unreversed and are visible to the public online, free of charge, via the Wisconsin Circuit Court Automated Program, commonly referred to as CCAP.

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The prosecutor in this case today asked for a “substantial cash bond” stating that Patterson purchased a gun that killed two people the same day.

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“Based upon the extreme seriousness of the offense, the state believes that there is a high likelihood of incarceration, which would be a motive for the defendant to not appear in court. So although the defendant does not have a criminal history, I would note that she is still quite young. So not having a criminal history is not necessarily an extremely compelling fact. And I think even in light of that, there is a high likelihood of incarceration, given the facts of this case. Also, it appears the defendant was not entirely honest with law enforcement when she was interviewed in connection with this, and was either trying to protect herself or her family. So I think the seriousness of these circumstances of this charge merit a very high cash bond,” said the Kenosha County Prosecutor. She asked for a $50,000 cash bail.

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Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner William Michel II agreed with the State saying, in part: “The court has great concern. The whole purpose of this type of statute, the straw purchase of a firearm, is so felons and criminals like this can’t get guns. It’s unfortunate, and I do know that Ms. Patterson did give quite a bit of a statement to law enforcement, cooperating with law enforcement, but the nature, how she put this community at risk, the court is going to impose a substantial cash bond. The court is going to follow the state’s recommendation for a $50,000 cash bond.”

Patterson is due back in court on September 18, 2024 for a preliminary hearing.

Victim’s Family Speaks Out

When asked about the Kenosha DA’s office going easy on Franklin’s past felony cases, Amiah’s mother, Tamia Prather, told KCE “They’re responsible [for Amiah’s death]…And they need to pay more attention to their cases. I understand they may have a lot of cases. But they need to dig deep and look into the cases before giving bonds. Especially when it’s something violent and when it’s domestic.”

Amiah’s brother Bryan chimed in, saying “And then all his charges escalated higher and higher. Went from domestic to stalking. Like, it’s a pattern. Like, how [couldn’t] they couldn’t catch on to that?”

“And he [is] getting off. Like, the DA just [is just letting Franklin out,” said Tamia Prather. Prather’s family was also upset that Patterson wasn’t charged in some way with the murders. They believe that Patterson played a role in the murders and it wasn’t a coincidence that Amiah was killed the same day the gun was purchased.