João Franco and Karlos Franco arrested after teen dies, media report
The brothers remain jailed after a store employee died in hospital; their charges were not immediately known.
Below Deck star João Franco and his brother Karlos were arrested in Turkey following a clash with clothing store workers in which a 17-year-old employee died, Turkish and U.S. media reported.
On Nov. 7, the brothers exchanged words and profanity with clothing store employees in Muğla's Bodrum district before the dispute turned physical, Turkish outlets Voices Newspaper and Haberler.com reported. Voices Newspaper cited allegations that both men were intoxicated.
Local reports identified the teenager only as Muhammed K. and said his head hit steps when he fell. Those reports said he suffered a severe head injury and went into cardiac arrest, but emergency responders revived him and took him to Muğla Training and Research Hospital. He died in hospital two days after the fight.
The brothers were taken to Bodrum Courthouse and remain in prison, Page Six reported. Their charges and legal representation were not immediately known.
João Franco arrived in court Monday with a white bandage over his head and stitches under his left eye, Hello magazine reported. Karlos Franco had a bandage above his right eye and a cast on his right arm.
Footage published by Page Six
Page Six obtained and published CCTV footage of the fight. Entertainment Weekly said it could not independently verify the footage.
The video appears to show Karlos Franco throwing the first punch, while João Franco tries to separate his brother from the employee.
Other employees appear to come out of the store before several men exchange punches. During the fight, a man appears to lift a stool and try to throw it at the brothers.
The footage appears to show someone going after João Franco, who swings back, hitting a young man. The young man falls and lies motionless; within a minute of his fall, the fighting stops.
Bravo declined to comment on the arrests; the network airs the franchise.
From Zimbabwe to Below Deck
Born in Zimbabwe, João Franco, 36, and Karlos later moved to Europe to pursue yachting careers. Franco told Bravo's Daily Dish in 2019 that Karlos, who is two years younger, was working in yachting in Dubai.
Franco debuted as lead deckhand in 2018 on the third season of Below Deck Mediterranean and returned as bosun in 2019. During the third season, he spoke to cast member Brooke Laughton about his family concerns and said he had "been responsible for everyone, been responsible for my brother."
He joined Below Deck Down Under for season two in 2023, missed the third season and returned as 2nd Officer/Bosun for season four. That season premiered on Bravo on Feb. 2, 2026.
A post shared by Below Deck (@belowdeckbravo) on Instagram
In May 2026, Franco told the Mallorca Daily Bulletin he was now captain of a very large vessel and that "my new role’s terms mean I won’t be going back." In the same interview, he said, "Sure, the money is great, but with the prestige of my current position, I think I’ve outgrown it."
Below Deck Down Under is returning for a fifth season, though it is unclear whether Franco will be in the cast.
An unnamed source told Page Six that the brothers remain jailed locally pending further developments in the case.
