Crime & Safety
Trial Begins for Man Accused of Murdering Palm Desert Teacher
An Indio man is accused of murdering his girlfriend, a popular Palm Desert High School teacher, dumping her body on a golf course in 2013.
INDIO, CA - Trial proceedings were expected to get underway starting Monday for an Indio man accused of murdering his girlfriend and dumping her body at an Indio golf course.
Michael John Franco, 45, faces life without the possibility of parole for the alleged murder of Jill Grant, 41, a popular Palm Desert High School math teacher whose body was found at the Golf Club at Terra Lago in the early morning hours of Dec. 23, 2013.
In addition to murder, Franco faces special circumstance allegations of inflicting torture on Grant and committing the murder in the commission of a felony, initially making him eligible for the death penalty. In August 2015, prosecutors decided not to pursue capital punishment against him.
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Franco also faces one felony count each of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded firearm, and sentence-enhancing allegations of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.
Grant's body was found by golf course employees, who told Indio police that an SUV sped off from the scene, leaving tire marks along the course.
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Grant was found with numerous injuries; the criminal complaint lists a Toyota Prius and a box cutter as weapons used in the killing.
Investigators said a search conducted the following day at Grant's residence in the 84-400 block of Onda Drive in Indio revealed blood on several items throughout the house and shoe prints consistent with impressions found at the crime scene, according to court records.
Franco was taken into custody on Dec. 24, 2013 in Palm Desert. Police said in court documents that Franco had to be Tased before being taken into custody following "a short scuffle" and told police that he was trying to get to Mexico before they caught him.
Franco remains held in lieu of $5 million bail.
According to the criminal complaint, he was convicted of felony robbery in Alameda County in June 1990, but has no felony convictions in Riverside County.
- City News Service / Image via Shutterstock
