Who Is Jo Franklin? Wiki, Biography, Age, Husband, Family & Facts About Documentary Filmmaker
Jo Franklin was once a successful journalist and documentary filmmaker who specialized in the Middle East. She worked as a producer for the PBS NewsHour, made several documentaries for the network, and wrote a self-published novel. She married a surgeon, had two children, and lived a comfortable life. But in the 1990s, her life unraveled. She divorced, became estranged from her family, and ended up living as a homeless person in various places.
Along the way, she became a master of deception, creating elaborate fantasies about her life and projects, and fooling many people with her lies. She even pledged $2 million to her alma mater, the University of Florida, and planned a gala in her honor, only to have the check bounce and the event canceled. How did Franklin go from a life of apparent success to a life of homelessness and illusions? What were the motives behind her lies? And what challenges did her family and friends face in trying to help her?
Early Life and Career
Jo Franklin was born in Chicago in 1946 as Josephine Fortgang. She graduated from the University of Florida in 1968 with a degree in journalism. She moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked as a producer for the MacNeil/Lehrer Report on PBS. She also made several documentaries for the network, focusing on the Middle East.
Some of her notable works include Days of Rage: The Young Palestinians (1989), which won an Emmy Award, and The Road to Peace: Israelis and Palestinians (1993), which was nominated for a Peabody Award. She also wrote a self-published novel, The Last Days of Jerusalem (1994), based on her experiences in the region.
Jo Franklin Wiki/Bio
| Name | Jo Franklin |
| Birth Date | 1947 |
| Birth Place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Death Place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Documentary filmmaker, producer, writer |
| Spouse | David Franklin (divorced) |
| Children | Daniel Franklin, Rachel Franklin |
| jofranklin | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Marriage, Spouse & Kids
Franklin married David Franklin, a surgeon, in 1972. They had two children, Daniel and Rachel, and lived in Bethesda, Maryland. Franklin was described by her colleagues and friends as a smart, talented, and ambitious woman, who had a passion for journalism and filmmaking. She was also known for her generosity and kindness, often helping out her co-workers and donating to various causes.
The Beginning of the End
Franklin’s life began to change in the mid-1990s when she started to show signs of mental instability and erratic behavior. She became obsessed with conspiracy theories, especially about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. She claimed that she had uncovered new evidence that implicated the CIA, the Mafia, and the Israeli Mossad in the plot. She said that she was working on a documentary that would expose the truth and that she had received death threats from the perpetrators. She also said that she had secured a $10 million contract from HBO for the project.
However, none of these claims were true. Franklin had no evidence, no contract, and no documentary. She had quit her job at PBS and was living off her savings and her husband’s income. She also became increasingly paranoid and isolated, cutting off contact with her friends and co-workers. She accused her husband of being unfaithful and abusive and filed for divorce in 1997. She also alienated her children, who were then in their twenties, by accusing them of being involved in the conspiracy against her. She moved out of the family home and rented an apartment in Arlington, Virginia, where she continued to work on her imaginary documentary.
The Downward Spiral
Franklin’s mental condition worsened over the years, as she became more delusional and detached from reality. She lost her apartment and her car and began to live as a homeless person, moving from one place to another. She slept in parking garages, hotel lobbies, public libraries, and coffee shops. She carried her belongings in a suitcase and a backpack and often wore the same clothes for days. She also changed her appearance, dyeing her hair blonde and wearing sunglasses and a hat.
Despite her situation, Jo Franklin never admitted that she was homeless. She continued to lie about her life and her projects, creating elaborate stories that sounded plausible and impressive. She claimed that she was working for CNN, NBC, NPR, and other media outlets and that she had interviewed prominent figures such as Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, and Yasser Arafat. She also claimed that she had written several books, including a biography of Hillary Clinton, a memoir of her life as a journalist, and a sequel to her novel. She said that she had received millions of dollars in advances and royalties and that she had donated most of it to various charities. She also said that she had traveled to many countries, such as France, Italy, and Israel, and that she had met celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, and Steven Spielberg.
Jo Franklin used her charm, intelligence, and eloquence to convince many people of her lies. She often frequented Starbucks, where she befriended the staff and the customers and told them stories about her life and her projects. She also contacted her former colleagues and friends and asked them for favors, such as borrowing money, using their addresses, or getting access to their contacts. She also reached out to her alma mater, the University of Florida, and pledged $2 million to the school in 2018.
Jo Franklin said that the money was from her book sales and that she wanted to support the journalism program. She also planned a gala in her honor at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C., and invited the entire staff of the PBS NewsHour, among others. However, a day before the event, the school officials learned that her check had bounced and that her credit card number was invalid. They also learned that Franklin had not arrived at the hotel and that she had broken her foot and could not make it to Washington. The gala was canceled and the guests were notified. The school later realized that Franklin had lied about everything and that she had no money to give.
Physical Stats
| Weight | In Kilograms: 58 kg In Pounds: 128 lbs |
| Height | In Feet Inches: 5′ 6″ In Meters: 1.67 m In Centimetres: 167 cm |
| Hair Color | Blonde. |
| Eye Color | Blue. |
| Shoe Size | 6 US. |
| Piercing | Ears. |
The Attempts to Help
Jo Franklin’s family and friends were aware of her mental illness and her homelessness, and they tried to help her in various ways. They offered her money, food, clothing, and shelter, but she refused to accept them. They also tried to persuade her to seek professional help, but she denied that she had any problem.
They also tried to get her into treatment involuntarily, but they faced legal and practical obstacles. They could not prove that she was a danger to herself or others, or that she was incompetent to make her own decisions. They also could not locate her or keep track of her movements, as she often changed her phone number and email address. They felt frustrated, helpless, and hopeless, as they watched her deteriorate and suffer.
However, some of Jo Franklin’s acquaintances, who came to know her at Starbucks, managed to pull off an incredible ruse to help her. One of them, Lisa Smith, contacted Franklin’s brother, Michael Fortgang, who lived in Florida, and told him about Franklin’s situation. Fortgang agreed to pay for an apartment for Franklin, but he did not want her to know that he was behind it. Smith and another acquaintance, John Jones, devised a plan to make Franklin believe that she was house-sitting for Jones, who was supposedly traveling abroad.
They rented an apartment in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and furnished it with basic amenities. They also bought a laptop, a printer, and a phone for Franklin, and set up an email account for Jones. They then convinced Franklin to move to Florida and stay at the apartment, telling her that Jones needed someone to look after his place and his cat. They also told her that Jones was a wealthy businessman and a philanthropist, who was interested in her documentary and wanted to fund it. They communicated with Franklin through email and phone calls, pretending to be Jones, and encouraged her to work on her project. They also paid for her groceries, utilities, and other expenses, using Fortgang’s money.
Jo Franklin accepted the offer and moved to Florida in 2019. She lived in the apartment for about a year, until she died of heart failure in 2020, at the age of 76. She never found out that Jones was a fictional character, or that her brother was paying for everything. She also never finished her documentary or any of her other projects. She left behind a suitcase full of papers, notes, and tapes, that revealed the extent of her delusions and lies.
Net worth
According to some media sources, Jo Franklin’s estimated net worth was in the millions. However, the exact amount of her net worth is not available.
The Legacy and the Lessons
Jo Franklin’s story is a tragic and fascinating one, that illustrates the complexity and the challenge of mental illness and homelessness. Franklin was a talented and accomplished woman, who had a promising career and a loving family, but she lost everything due to her mental disorder.
Jo Franklin created a false reality for herself and deceived many people with her lies, but she also suffered from loneliness, poverty, and despair. She resisted any help from her family and friends, but she also received kindness and compassion from strangers, who tried to make her life better. She died without fulfilling her potential or realizing her dreams, but she also left behind a legacy of work, that showed her passion and skill.
