Suspected murder of Susanna Flores Brown and Franchesca Antionette Martinez by Billye Brown investigated on Cold Justice

Mugshot of Billye Brown
Billye Brown is facing charges in the murder of Susanna Flores Brown and her daughter Francesca. Pic credit: Abilene Police Department

Cold Justice is investigating the shocking murders of Susanna Flores Brown and her young daughter Franchesca Antionette Martinez at their home in Abilene, Texas, in 1982.

This 40-year-old cold case received a massive breakthrough in October last year when Susanna’s common-law husband, Billye Brown, was arrested and charged with felony murder.

Brown has maintained his innocence, and his case is still being processed through the courts. He has not been convicted.

In the early hours of March 9, 1982, Brown dialed 911, claiming he’d come home from work to find 30-year-old Susanna and 8-year-old Franchesca had been killed. He said he found the backyard kitchen door slightly ajar.

Susanna was bashed in the head with a lamp and then strangled with the lamp’s cord. Her remains were smeared with feces that were not her own.

The killer had dragged Franchesca from under the bed where she’d likely been hiding and strangled her with a cord from the telephone in the living room. The cord had been cut twice.

The police found no signs of forced entry.

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Police were suspicious of Billye Brown in Susanna Flores Brown and Franchesca Antionette Martinez murders

At the time, the detectives alleged that Brown did not seem overly concerned about the murders and made inappropriate and insensitive comments to the officers.

The cops also say they learned from Susanna’s family that her relationship with Brown was not a happy one. She’d made attempts to get away from him, which included changing the locks on the house and even asking her siblings to get her a gun.

Susanna Flores Brown and Franchesca Antionette Martinez smiling in family pics
Susanna Flores Brown and Franchesca Antionette Martinez were brutally murdered at their home in Abilene, Texas. Pic credit: Abilene Police Department

However, the case lay dormant for many years until 2023, when a DNA swab taken from Susanna’s mouth came back with a likely match for Brown.

Billye Brown charged with killing Susanna Flores Brown and Franchesca Antionette Martinez

The 65-year-old Brown was arrested and charged with first-degree felony murder in October 2023. He has since been released on a $200,000 bond.

The cops said they contacted Brown before his arrest, asking for his help with the investigation. He initially seemed cooperative before allegedly refusing to give a DNA sample or to be interviewed.

He was since compelled to give a DNA sample, which he referred to as his “death warrant.”

In February 2024, Brown made a preliminary court appearance, and as he left, he was asked by a local reporter if he had anything to say to the victim’s family. He responded by laughing and claiming, “They’ve been duped.”

Cold Justice airs on Saturdays at 8/7c on Oxygen.

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Settle Family
Settle Family
7 months ago

We absolutely love Cold Justice and Kelly Siegler, thank the LORD! Such a blessing!! <3

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