Former Below Deck star and brother detained after teen dies in Turkish shop altercation
João Franco, a former Bravo reality-TV personality, and his brother were arrested in Bodrum following a fistfight that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old store employee.
Portuguese-born João Franco, 36, known for his roles on Below Deck Mediterranean and Below Deck Down Under, and his brother Karlos Franco were taken into custody by Turkish authorities after a dispute outside a clothing store in Bodrum, Muğla province. Local reports said the brothers, described as tourists and allegedly intoxicated, used profanity that led to a verbal argument with store staff, which escalated into a physical confrontation.
Security-camera footage obtained by media shows Karlos throwing the first punch at a store employee, after which João intervened and pushed his brother away. The employee then lunged at the pair and began striking them, prompting other workers to join the melee. The video captures one individual falling and remaining motionless until the fight ended.
Authorities identified the fallen person as a 17-year-old male employee. According to regional outlets, he suffered a head injury after hitting stairs, went into cardiac arrest, and was revived by medics on the street before being taken to a hospital in critical condition, where he later died.
Both Franco brothers were arrested and transferred to Bodrum Courthouse, where they remain in detention pending further legal proceedings. A Bravo network spokesperson declined to comment when approached for comment.
The Franco brothers, originally from Zimbabwe, moved to Europe to work in the yachting industry before appearing on the reality series. João debuted on Below Deck Mediterranean in 2018 and later joined Below Deck Down Under, eventually becoming a captain. Although Bravo renewed the series for a fifth season earlier this year, João announced he would not return, citing career developments.