João Franco and his brother Karlos are behind bars in Turkey after a brawl outside a clothing store killed a teenage employee.
The siblings, both yachting professionals who were born in Zimbabwe before relocating to Europe, were arrested in the Bodrum district of Muğla following the Saturday night altercation. João, 36, appeared on Bravo’s “Below Deck Mediterranean” and “Below Deck: Down Under.”
Local outlets Voices Newspaper and Haberler.com reported that the dispute began when the Francos were allegedly using profanity toward staff at the shop. The verbal confrontation rapidly turned physical on the sidewalk just outside the entrance.
CCTV footage appears to show Karlos, dressed in a dark T-shirt, shorts and a baseball cap, delivering the first punch. João, wearing a white-striped collared shirt with matching shorts and a baseball cap, then intervened to pull his brother away from the employee in what looked like an effort to calm the situation.
The employee lunged back and swung at the pair, prompting several coworkers to rush out of the store and join the melee. The group traded punches and kicks, with one worker even grabbing a stool and attempting to hurl it at the brothers.
João appeared to try de-escalating at various points during the roughly minute-long clash. The fighting persisted, and he was seen throwing a punch before one of the store workers dropped to the ground and lay motionless as the scattered group finally broke apart.
That individual was a 17-year-old staffer who struck his head on steps when he fell, according to local reports. Voices Newspaper reported that the teen suffered a severe head injury and went into cardiac arrest at the scene. Emergency responders managed to revive him before rushing him to Muğla Training and Research Hospital in critical condition.
Haberler.com reported Monday that the boy died from his injuries in the hospital.
Authorities transported João and Karlos to Bodrum Courthouse following the teen’s death. The brothers are now in prison, with one source saying that the duo is “awaiting the next steps.” Reps for the municipal police in Bodrum, the local prison and the courthouse did not immediately respond to inquiries. Bravo representatives declined to comment.
The Francos built careers in the yachting industry after leaving Zimbabwe, with João rising to public visibility through his appearances on Bravo’s “Below Deck” franchise. He served as bosun on “Below Deck Mediterranean” across multiple seasons and later appeared on “Below Deck: Down Under,” which premiered in 2022.
The investigation remains ongoing as the brothers remain in custody.