Domestic violence, Murder, Violence

Father of 2 Charged with Murdering UNC Professor Girlfriend

The ReadyWriter

The boyfriend of a popular UNC professor has been charged with her murder. 45-year-old Donny Lewis Franklin was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with murdering 35-year-old Jeannine Shante Skinner (both pictured above). 

Skinner was an esteemed University of North Carolina professor. Her battered body was discovered in her apartment over the weekend, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Police say Franklin has a history of domestic violence and domestic arrests and he plead guilty to a misdemeanor account of assaulting a woman in 2003.

Friends say Franklin and Skinner’s relationship was “relatively new”. They dated for less than two months and went to church together on Sunday.

Her body was found inside her Ayrsley Town Center apartment after the police conducted a wellness check on her just before noon Friday.

The cause of death was not made public, but police say Skinner suffered blunt force trauma to her body.

Published by The ReadyWriter

Writer, Published Author, CEO of ReadyWriter Production Company and Blog Talk Radio Host.

67 thoughts on “Father of 2 Charged with Murdering UNC Professor Girlfriend”

  1. Ladies please take a man’s domestic violence history seriously.

    Society is so quick to forgive and trust men who have battered women and women are too lenient and trusting of men with battering histories.

    When women learn that a man used to harass, stalk, beat, or verbally abuse an ex wife or ex girlfriend, walk away.

    This victim thought she had a changed man as they were going to church together. But brimming under the surface was his mental illness of battering and he killed this beautiful intelligent sister within two months of a new relationship. 😡

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  2. Only two months of dating, this is not a woman who tried to change an abuser, she probably sensed he was off or had a bad experience with him and tried to break things off quickly. Then this sick fool kills her. I hope he never sees the light of day.

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  3. Not knowing a man that well and for such a short time and yall are going to church together seems…. off. To me. Idk why. I wonder who’s idea that was. Probably his crazy asses. People often use God to manipulate folks. Interesting. Of course, I could be wrong but..

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  4. Her kind spirit shines through that photo. There is a pleasance in her eyes and smile. I’m sure she was too good for this man, but kind enough to give him a chance. Sad. 😥 Very sad.

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  5. Saw his mug shot in the paper. Figured he cleaned up nice. My heart hurts for this brilliant sister. Such a loss to the community. Probably thought he was turning his life around.

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  6. I’m telling y’all these black men hate us. They don’t want us to be more successful than them in one bit. They try to tear us down by dissing our looks but praise a yt or exotic looking chick on IG everyday. I swear they make me sick in my city…this is disgusting. RIP to this Queen.

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    1. Black men have been beat down so much by society that some of them do have a hard to accepting that women are more successful. They are angry at society and take it out on the most vulnerable ones closest to them.

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      1. I agree. My ex-husband definitely did not like the fact that I continued to be more successful while he stayed stagnant. Which us why I left his ass. He would proudly introduce me to his family as Native American (which I am not) like he had won some prize. O_o

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      2. Black men have been beat down so much by society that some of them do have a hard to accepting that women are more successful. They are angry at society and take it out on the most vulnerable ones closest to them.
        ———-
        This might be true but we are NOT the enemy.

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      4. Black men have been beat down so much by society that some of them do have a hard to accepting that women are more successful.
        ———
        So true but we must learn to get along and love each other better. This story is heart breaking! The black man needs his black woman and vice versa

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  11. Relationships are scary whether you are married or single. None of us are safe. If you don’t wanna die by the hands of your man don’t date or get married.

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  13. I used to think that with age came with wisdom and stability, which is why I tended to prefer older men. That’s just not always the case.
    My heart goes out to her family.
    Rest in Heaven Jeanne.

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  16. Rest in Protected Peace, dear Jeannine Shante Skinner. May you return with Karma so that you may witness the fate of the coward that murdered you… because he was afraid of your everything (education, discipline, popularity, status, beauty…). Self defense should be a required course in all schools at all levels of education.

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      1. Gurl STOP!!!
        **********
        YES Girl STOP !!! Y’all ain’t about to bash the brothaz for the sorry ass few Oh hell Naw not today!!!

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  21. OT:
    Any Conversationers in Florida, please be safe. Please be mindful of any evacuation orders for your area. Prayers…🙏🏾❤️

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  22. “Virginia court records show Franklin was formerly a resident of Roanoke, Virginia, and was arrested there multiple times for crimes including reckless driving, assault and battery, burglary with intent to commit assault and trespassing.”

    This was an educated woman. I can’t believe she didn’t know she was playing house with a bum. Not only do I refuse to date someone with a criminal record, I also refuse to be friends with convicts. The more you accomplish, the more you have to lose.

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  23. Not a lot of options for successful women who love Black men in Charlotte. Either take in a handsome bum and stunt or share somebody else’s man in secret.

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  24. Ultimately, an education should teach us to utilize both wisdom and discernment. And us sistahs need to set our standards a bit higher. she was falling for a bum. and look he killed her.

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  25. I think she did what far too many black women do — she settled. When someone has that kind of background, it’s impossible to disguise. It would have revealed itself in his speech, his range of knowledge, his interests. She HAD to have known he wasn’t on her level, even if she didn’t know the extent of his criminality. But she probably just wanted ” a man.” Many women do this.

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  26. Ok y’all don’t be so hard on black women,and or men, for that matter. Some people – male or female… black, white, etc. – don’t know their own worth. They don’t know how to self-protect. hence they fall into situations like this.

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    1. I think it tends to be an issue more with women than men though. Especially when they get on the other side of 30 or 35 and still desire to get married one day.
      I’ve seen women I’ve known just lower their standards a lot when it comes to dudes, after they got past a certain age. The dude is bum and everybody (friends/family) can see it but them… frankly, because they don’t want to see it.

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  27. So many judgements in here. First of all RIP to this lady. But damn. Why we think she DIDN’T know about his past? Do a background check etc etc. She had a PhD. She probably Googled him in the LEAST. Maybe she was OKAY with it. You cant get a job if you have a background. Don’t date down. Ummm he had a job he had been on for 5 years at a huge medical supply company in Charlotte. Sounds like a decent job to me. We don’t know what happened but we do know she is no longer here. RIP to her but don’t downplay her intelligence of not knowing. She may have known but for whatever reason gave him a chance.

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  29. Educated black women, PLEASE LEAVE THESE BLACK MEN ALONE!!!!!! Especially the uneducated ones. She was a professor, and I doubt he even has a GED. With a HISTORY of arrests, no reputable company would hire him in a responsible position.

    If you insist upon dating black men, HIRE A PRIVATE DETECTIVE BEFORE YOU LET HIM IN YOUR HOME. And stop being so damned desperate for a man that you accept one who is not on your level in EVERY way : Academically, Professionally, Economically, Intellectually and Spiritually. And the fact that he goes to church with you doesn’t mean squat. Many gay black men are sitting in church waiting for a desperate, financially-secure black woman they can latch onto for a check.

    Now everyone who wants to condemn me for speaking the truth, go ahead. But you all know I’M RIGHT. This sound advice would still have this sistah alive today.

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    1. Listen Val you are painting broad strokes here. It’s MANY educated men doctors, engineers, detectives, lawyers whooping, tricking and killing bitches erday. Liars come in all occupations and income levels.

      It’s MANY black men that have limited education but are hard working and are not criminal savages, but are loving hard working men.

      Who hurt you boo?☹ talk to me 😡

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      1. I see your passion Val, but the warning shouldn’t be limited to Black Men. White men are killing their wives/girlfriends at alarming rates. Evil is a spirit, not a ‘color’ …be careful of ALL strangers.

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      2. Exactly @Adam, every race of men has their faults. I see a Indian doctor kill his white wife whose a doctor as well. Double high educated people. Still the male doctor killed his wife whose a doctor as well. Stop hating the Black man

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      3. Oh NO. I would neva abandon a sistah. Just as I would NEVA abuse one mentally emotionally or spiritually. And I hope all sistahs don’t feel like you Val. Really? We should not all suffer because of the stupidity of a few.

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  31. I wonder if she knew about his criminal past? 2 months is such a short time. But a quick google search will tell you everything these days…. Especially if they have a criminal record. You WILL find their mugshot. I can guarantee you that.

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  32. He most likely told her that those women filed false charges on him because he didn’t want to be with them anymore!! I had a crazy fool in one month he showed himself it ended with a restraining order and me losing my job. I had to even move to a whole other state meanwhile he quickly found his next and guess what she sent me a message on IG saying he abused her and all kinds of stuff she said he told her I was mad because he didn’t want me humph!! That’s the same story line all abusers use to make it seem like everyone else crazy but them O_o

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  33. RIP Ms. Lady :(. This makes me sad. Hope they put him under the chain. Being that she was a popular professor at UNC, I’m sure her students will write letters to the court… Because I sure as heck would. He’s a bum

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  35. They were only dating for two months. My Gawd. This is why I’m very careful who I date. This guy was a predator and a loser in life. He was probably jealous of her success.

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  38. He was jealous of her, she should have dated someone on her level, but as they were only together for two months she probably caught on that he wasn’t shit quick, but not quick enough and tried to leave the bum. Sad for this smart and beautiful woman

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    1. Yes!!
      I dated a freaking nut case for 6 months. A straight mental, emotional, and verbal abuser. Thank God I left his psychotic ass!

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  40. I hate hearing about things like this. Now the family is forced to play cat and mouse cuz he will never simply say what happened. Two months and there’s this type rage to kill? WoW O_o

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  41. Prolly jealous of her and her success… She prolly dated him and then found that he was not whom he said he was in any way shape or form… Then decided to kick him to the curb… He wasn’t having the rejection and went off… Insecure MF!!!

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