João Franco and his brother, Karlos Franco, were arrested in the Bodrum district of Muğla, Turkey, following a physical altercation that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old employee.
Details of the Altercation
The incident occurred on November 7, 2026, at approximately 8:00 p.m. at a clothing store on Cumhuriyet Street in the Çarşı neighborhood of Bodrum.
According to local reports, the dispute began when the brothers, identified as 36-year-old João Grant Franco and 34-year-old Carlos Campbell Franco, allegedly used “foul language” and were “reportedly intoxicated” during an encounter with staff. The verbal dispute quickly escalated into a physical brawl involving the brothers and two store employees, Muhammet Koyabakan, 17, and E.K., 28.
CCTV footage obtained by Page Six shows the men punching and kicking each other, with one individual lifting a stool to throw at the Francos. The video appears to show Karlos throwing the first punch, while João seemingly attempts to de-escalate the situation at various points.
The teen suffered a severe head injury and went into cardiac arrest. Although emergency medical personnel initially revived the victim and transported him to the Muğla Training and Research Hospital in critical condition, he died on November 9 despite medical intervention.
Legal Proceedings
Following the incident, João and Karlos Franco were taken to the Bodrum Courthouse and are currently being held in prison. During police questioning, both brothers maintained their innocence. Two other individuals involved in the incident, Y.A. and F.A., were released under judicial control. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the fight.
João Grant Franco Worked as an Engineer Before Yachting
João Grant Franco was born on April 30, 1990, in Harare, Zimbabwe. Before entering the yachting industry, he worked as a motor vehicle engineer at BMW and later operated a business modifying off-road vehicles for tourism.
Franco, a Zimbabwean citizen, eventually moved to Europe with his brother to pursue a career in yachting. In his official Bravo bio, he described himself as Second Officer with eight years of industry experience, noting his “special skill” as being a “jack of all trades and a master of none.”
Franco gained prominence as a reality television personality, appearing in the U.S. series “Below Deck” over four seasons.
His career on the show began in 2018 with “Below Deck Mediterranean.“He later joined the cast of”Below Deck Down Under.“In May 2026, Franco told the Majorca Daily Bulletin that the fourth season of”Down Under,” which aired from February to June 2026, would be his final appearance, explaining that the show “neatly mirrored” his real-world career progression from deckhand to captain. Representatives for Bravo declined to comment on the arrest.
Earlier coverage: Below Deck' Star João Franco Arrested in Turkey After Fatal Brawl