BODRUM, TURKEY (THECOUNT) — João Grant Franco, a 36-year-old reality television personality who appeared on Bravo’s “Below Deck” franchise and “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” has been arrested in Turkey along with his brother after an altercation left a 17-year-old boy dead.
Franco and his brother, Carlos Campbell Franco, 34, both Portuguese nationals, were involved in a fight with shop employees in the resort city of Bodrum on Saturday evening, November 7, according to Turkish news agency Demirören and local reporting.
Advertisement
The confrontation occurred at a business on Cumhuriyet Street in the Çarşı neighborhood. The teenager, identified as Muhammet Koyabakan, was seriously injured during the fight after falling and striking his head on the ground. He was transported to a hospital, where he died Monday, November 9.
According to the Turkish reports, the argument began after the brothers allegedly used profanity while at the business. The verbal dispute escalated into a physical confrontation involving shop employees.
Both brothers were detained by police and later formally arrested. Turkish authorities have not publicly specified the charges against them.
According to reports on their statements to police, the brothers claimed they were attacked and acted in self-defense. They denied striking Koyabakan.
Turkish news agency DHA reported that four people were injured in the altercation. Two additional individuals were detained during the investigation but later released under judicial supervision, while the Franco brothers remained in custody.
Franco is known to American television audiences for his appearances on “Below Deck Mediterranean” and “Below Deck Down Under.” He first appeared in the franchise in 2018, working as a yacht crew member before advancing through positions in the industry.
He also appeared on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.” The “Below Deck” franchise follows crew members working aboard luxury yachts as they serve guests and navigate life at sea.
The incident has drawn attention because of Bodrum’s reputation as a popular destination for international yacht owners and wealthy visitors. The Turkish port city sits along the Aegean Sea in Muğla Province, on the country’s southwestern coast.
The investigation into the fatal altercation remains ongoing. Franco and his brother have not been convicted of a crime, and the allegations against them remain subject to the Turkish judicial process.
The fatal fight occurred on Cumhuriyet Street in Bodrum’s Çarşı neighborhood, in Muğla Province on Turkey’s Aegean coast.
Google Maps: Cumhuriyet Street, Çarşı neighborhood, Bodrum, Turkey (approximate location)
DEVELOPING::