Below Deck alum João Franco and his brother, Karlos Franco, were arrested in Bodrum, Turkey, following a fight outside a clothing store that left a 17-year-old employee with a fatal head injury. Turkish media reported that the teenager died in hospital. As of Nov. 11, it remained unclear what charges, if any, the brothers face.
The altercation began with an argument between the brothers and employees of a clothing store in Bodrum's Çarşı neighborhood over the weekend of Nov. 7-8, according to Turkish and U.S. media reports. The dispute moved outside, where several people became involved in the fight. Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that four people were injured.
On Wednesday, Page Six published security footage that it said showed Karlos appearing to throw the first visible punch. According to the outlet's account of the footage, João initially appeared to pull his brother away from another man. Later in the fight, João appeared to swing his fist before a person fell. Entertainment Weekly said it could not independently verify the footage.
Local outlet Haberler reported that the 17-year-old employee fell and struck his head during the fight. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and later died despite treatment.
Anadolu reported that police took the brothers into custody and that a judge ordered them held. Two men from the other group were released under judicial supervision, the agency reported. A Bravo spokesperson declined to comment to People, which said it had contacted authorities in Bodrum for more information.
Franco, who is from Harare, Zimbabwe, joined Below Deck Mediterranean as a lead deckhand in 2018 and returned for its fourth season the following year. He moved to Below Deck Down Under in 2023 and returned as second officer for the show's fourth season, which premiered in February 2026. Outside the franchise, Franco has worked as a yacht captain.
