A second person has been indicted in the 2025 murder of Project Pat‘s son, Patrick Houston Jr., who was tragically shot and killed in Memphis at the age of 21. The legal proceedings surrounding the case have reached a new milestone as authorities continue to build their investigation.
According to a report from ABC 24 Memphis on Thursday, Sept. 10, 18-year-old Jermiesia Franklin has been formally indicted on two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and tampering with or fabricating evidence. The latter charge stems from allegations that she took the victim’s cell phone following the shooting.
Franklin, who was 16 at the time of the incident, is currently being held on a $5 million bond at the Shelby County Jail in Memphis. In addition to the charges related to the death of Houston Jr., she faces separate legal challenges, including attempted second-degree murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, stemming from an unrelated incident in September 2024.
Franklin is the second individual to be arrested in connection with the case. Nineteen-year-old Talia Jones was previously apprehended in Minnesota in July 2025 for her alleged role in the crime. Jones is currently facing charges of aggravated robbery and tampering with or fabricating evidence. Law enforcement officials have indicated that their investigation suggests Franklin was the primary shooter, while Jones provided assistance during the commission of the murder.
Both defendants are scheduled to appear in court for a report date on Sept. 16, with a joint trial currently set to commence on September 21. Patrick Houston Jr. was discovered by police officers responding to a shooting call on Jan. 10, 2025. While Project Pat has not issued a public statement regarding these recent developments, he has remained dedicated to his faith-based outreach efforts, including regular prison visits and speaking engagements at churches through his non-profit organization, the Go Foundation.