Murderer called “Devil’s Chosen” dies in Monster Mansion

A killer who described himself as “the Devil’s chosen” was found dead in a maximum security prison in Yorkshire just months before he was eligible to apply for parole, an inquest hearing was told.

Wayne Spencer Franks was 20 when he stabbed elderly widow Mabel Whitelam 22 times after she answered the door for him in March 2003. After killing Mabel, heroin addict Franks robbed her house and stole £80. Franks denied murdering Mabel, but was found guilty after a trial. Police believe he targeted Mabel on her retirement day.

At the time, his defense attorney said he believed Franks was suffering from a psychopathic disorder at the time of the crime and posed a “serious and immediate danger to others,” it was reported in 2004.

READ MORE Big name store to close at Huddersfield’s Piazza shopping centre

Before committing the murder, Franks was said to have a long history of criminal behavior. Franks, 47, formerly of Grimsby, was found dead on his bed in his cell at Wakefield maximum security prison on December 5, 2022, after taking a large dose of dihydrocodeine which is believed to have purchased it from another inmate because it was not prescribed to him.

His cause of death was found to be heart disease, with dihydrocodeine having a contributing effect. He was thought to have been dead for some time as there was evidence of rigor mortis. A number of drugs were found in his system, including one used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, a condition Franks did not have.

An inquest jury in Wakefield heard that Franks was a known supplier and user of illicit substances in prison, including taking prescription drugs to other inmates. A prison family doctor told the inquest hearing that Franks had an extensive history of abusing illicit drugs in prison and had been abusing substances since he was 11 years old.

Franks had initially been treated in Rampton secure mental hospital amid claims he had a psychopathic disorder, but was later moved to Wakefield Prison.

In a statement, Franks’ daughter said her father stopped going to school at the age of 13 and she didn’t think he ever worked. She believed he would be eligible for parole in March 2023 after serving nearly 20 years in custody. She had only visited him a few times, but kept in touch through letters and phone calls.

She had spoken to Franks the day before he was found dead and said he “seemed like his normal self”. She expressed no concerns about her father’s care or treatment in prison.

Get all the latest and breaking news from Yorkshire via Sign up for our newsletter here.

An investigation into Franks’ death found no suspicious circumstances. The inquest said Wakefield made security improvements to make it harder for inmates to obtain drugs, including prescription drugs. The new procedures have seen a significant reduction in the drug trade.

The inquest heard details from the Prisons Ombudsman, who carried out an inquiry into Franks’ death. The ombudsman said Franks was given a life sentence for murder, with a minimum of 20 years, most of which was served in Wakefield.

The ombudsman said Franks was a known “dealer” of prescription drugs as well as a user. Coroner Oliver Longstaff told the jury there was no evidence that Franks took his own life or any evidence that amounted to criticism of the prison. He said it was likely that Franks obtained the dihydrocodeine in prison.

The jury concluded that Franks died as a result of an accident, in other words his death was caused by a deliberate act that had unintended consequences.