Former Bravo star João Franco and his brother Karlos Franco were arrested in Turkey following an altercation in a clothing store that left a 17-year-old worker dead.
The incident unfolded on Saturday, November 7, 2026, in the Bodrum district of Muğla. According to local outlets Voices Newspaper and Haberler.com, the brothers got into a verbal dispute with employees at a clothing store while using profanity. Security camera footage obtained by Page Six shows Karlos Franco throwing the first punch outside the shop.
João Franco, 36, initially stepped in to separate his brother from the worker in an attempt to defuse the tension. However, the situation escalated when the employee lunged back and other staff members joined the fray. “The group of men was seen punching and kicking each other, with one even lifting up a stool and attempting to throw it at the Francos,” Page Six wrote.
During the struggle, João Franco allegedly swung his fist, striking a 17-year-old store staffer who fell backwards and hit his head on the steps. The teenager sustained a severe head injury and suffered cardiac arrest on the street. Emergency responders revived him before transporting him to Muğla Training and Research Hospital in critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries and died.
Following the teenager’s death, authorities arrested João and Karlos Franco and transferred them to the Bodrum Courthouse. The brothers are currently held in a local prison while awaiting their next steps.
Representatives for Bravo declined to comment when approached by reporters regarding the arrest. Inquiries sent to municipal police, the local prison, and the courthouse in Bodrum also went unanswered.
Both Franco brothers were born in Zimbabwe and later relocated to Europe to pursue careers in the yachting industry. João Franco debuted on television during the third season of Below Deck Mediterranean in 2018 as a lead deckhand under Captain Sandy Yawn, returning for the fourth season. He subsequently appeared on seasons two and four of Below Deck Down Under as a bosun under Captain Jason Chambers.
