João Franco arrested in Turkey after fatal fight involving 17-year-old employee, Digi Mart USA News (Bodrum, Muğla, Turkey): Below Deck alum João Franco and his brother, Karlos Franco, have reportedly been arrested in Turkey following a brawl that left a 17-year-old dead, according to a report from US Magazine.
The men were seen engaged in a verbal dispute with employees of a clothing store in the Bodrum district of Muğla on Saturday, November 7, according to CCTV footage obtained by Page Six. Local outlets Voices Newspaper and Haberler.com reported that the brothers were using profanity, which allegedly escalated the argument into a physical altercation outside the store.
In the footage, Karlos, wearing a dark T-shirt, shorts and a baseball cap, appeared to throw the first punch. João, 36, wearing a white striped collared shirt, shorts and a baseball cap, seemingly attempted to diffuse the altercation by pulling his brother away from an employee.
However, the employee then lunged at the siblings, causing multiple other workers to run outside and join the fistfight.
The men were seen punching and kicking each other, and one employee picked up a stool and attempted to throw it at the Franco brothers. Though João seemingly tried to break up the fight multiple times, he eventually appeared to swing a fist at one employee, causing that person to fall to the ground.
The fight ended moments later.
According to local outlets, the employee who fell was a 17-year-old who hit his head on stairs. Voices Newspaper reported that the teen sustained a severe head injury and suffered cardiac arrest.
He was revived by emergency medical responders before being transported to Muğla Training and Research Hospital in critical condition. Haberler.com reported that the teen died in the hospital on Monday, November 9.
João and Karlos were subsequently arrested and taken to Bodrum Courthouse, Page Six reported, and are reportedly awaiting the next steps in prison. US Magazine reached out to representatives for Bravo and João for comment.
João and Karlos were born in Zimbabwe and later relocated to Europe to pursue careers in yachting. João first appeared on Bravo’s Below Deck Mediterranean in 2018 as a lead deckhand under Captain Sandy Yawn, returning in season 4 in 2019 as a bosun.
He then starred on Below Deck Down Under seasons 2 and 4 as a second officer/bosun under Captain Jason Chambers. Bravo renewed the series for a fifth season in May 2026.
João announced after season 4 that he would not return to the franchise. In May, he told the Mallorca Daily Bulletin: “The show neatly mirrored my real-world career progression.
Across the four series, I moved from deckhand to lead deckhand, bosun, and finally captain.” He added, “I never wanted to be a deckhand forever. The goal was always the bridge, so I spent every spare moment doing courses to move up.” He continued, “I can’t say much, but I’m now captain of a very large vessel.
I started a few months ago, and it’s a rotational position, which is awesome.”
