Duo arrested for aggravated robbery, lured victim to hotel in College Station

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – College Station police have arrested two people who allegedly lured, beat and robbed two victims at the Red Roof Inn on Texas Avenue in separate incidents within a matter of hours.

According to police reports, Mark Roberts and Tashawna Franklin are charged with two counts of aggravated robbery. Early in the morning of September 9, officers were dispatched to the Red Roof Inn after receiving a call about the aggravated robbery. When officers arrived, they encountered one of the victims, who had visible injuries and had run into the lobby of the hotel.

The victim told police that he was an Uber driver who was going to pick up Franklin. She then asked him for help getting something from her room. When the victim entered the room, a man, later identified as Roberts, had a gun and struck him with it several times while demanding that the victim give him his property. Franklin also hit the victim in the left eye. The victim was able to escape and then ran to the front desk where an employee called police.

According to police, the victim suffered injuries to his head, neck and left eye. He was also able to find Franklin's phone number from memory, which was checked against a database.

Both Roberts and Franklin had already left their room. When officers examined the crime scene, they found blood and other evidence that police said indicated a “physical struggle.”

A subsequent investigation revealed that police had been called to the Red Roof Inn on the evening of September 8 for a serious robbery, just hours before the Uber driver was attacked and robbed.

This victim, who we are referring to as “Victim B” to protect his identity, told police he went to the motel to meet a woman he met online. According to police reports, the victim was ordered to give the duo all of his money.

While Victim B was held at gunpoint, Franklin took his car keys and left the room for 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, Victim B was asked who could send him money and a friend sent him $200 via Cash App, which Robert then transferred to Franklin's account.

When Franklin returned to the room, she had paperwork for Victim B's vehicle with his parents' information on it. She also reportedly had a taser with her, which she threatened to use. After Victim B agreed to pay them more, they gave him his keys and told him to leave and not contact the police. The duo kept his cell phone and told him if he contacted the police, they would do something to his parents.

Victim B was able to find the ad he had seen, which included photos of Franklin, on a website known for prostitution. Police also obtained a copy of the person the room had been rented to, and at the time it was Franklin. Police say they found several more ads on websites used to solicit sex. A comparison to an old mugshot of Franklin in the BCSO books confirmed that Franklin was the same person as in the ads.

The surveillance videos also showed Franklin's vehicle as she arrived, as she fled after robbing the Uber driver, and as she checked in.

Police said they traced the vehicle to another motel in College Station that Franklin was also renting at the time of the aggravated robberies. Victim B was able to verify his Cash App account and confirm that money had been wired to Franklin, but was unable to provide the name of her account. He said the woman who robbed him was the same one in the ads. Victim B's phone was also traced to the other motel where Franklin was staying.

Police say they were able to find Roberts in the profile picture through Franklin's social media account. Both Victim B and the Uber driver confirmed that this was the man who robbed them.

Police said they also found a photo on Franklin's page that was a screenshot of information released by the TDCJ detailing how Roberts was released on parole. During the course of the investigation, police came across news reports that said Roberts had been arrested for breaking into more than 20 vehicles. When police walked Roberts through the dispatch center, they learned he was scheduled to be released from the Pardon and Parole Service for violating parole. His criminal history shows that he had been charged with felony offenses 28 times and convicted on 15 counts.

According to police reports, both victims were able to identify Roberts and Franklin through photographic lineups.

Editor’s note: Mugshots of Roberts and Franklin are not currently available.

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