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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Whitehall murder garners national attention

The recent murder in Whitehall has made national and even international news.

Na Cola Darcel Franklin, 31, allegedly stabbed to death her fiance, Billy Brewster, 36, in their Whitehall apartment Saturday just hours before they were to be married.

News outlets across the country and even overseas picked up the story.

Fox News posted the story on its website Sunday, though the story included the incorrect dateline "Hokendauqua," located in the northern end of the township.

The incident took place in the Fullerton section, not far from the Allentown city line, on the southern end of the township.

Time magazine had the story posted by Monday with the headline "Woman accused of stabbing fiancé to death on their wedding day."

Monday evening, the story aired on the nationally syndicated TV show "Nancy Grace."

The story also appears on the Nancy Grace website headlined, "Police: Bride stabs groom in heart before wedding."

CBS News also carried the story as of Monday though, like Fox news, it used the incorrect Hokendauqua dateline.

The Daily Mail in the U.K. posted the story as of Tuesday.

The story also appeared on websites for the Huffington Post, Georgia Daily News, KTLA in Los Angeles and the New York Daily News.

Whitehall Police Chief Linda J. Kulp could not be reached for comment on the number of inquiries from national media outlets.

Although the story has garnered significant attention, most media outlets have been running the same information, much of which came from the affidavit of probable cause.

The affidavit, filed by Whitehall Township Police Officer Michael Marks and Det. Richard Heffelfinger of the Lehigh County District Attorney's office, says Franklin is charged with criminal homicide in the death of Billy Brewster, with whom she lived at 1580 Olympic Circle, Apt. 7, in Whitehall.

Brewster, 36, was pronounced dead from stab wounds at 3:24 a.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, according to a statement from the Lehigh County Coroner's office.

Whitehall police were called to the apartment for a report of a stabbing at 2:19 a.m. Aug. 11, the affidavit says.

Brewster was found on the second floor landing outside the apartment, bleeding from a wound on the left side of his body, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Police spoke with Nakia and Monique Kali, who had come in from Illinois for the wedding scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, according to the affidavit.

They were staying with Brewster, Franklin and four children in the apartment, the affidavit says. Nakia Kali is Brewster's cousin.

The Kalis were in their bedroom when they realized an argument had begun. Monique Kali heard someone yell "knife," the affidavit says.

Nakia Kali left the bedroom to see what was happening and saw Franklin confront Brewster in the living room near the front door of the apartment. He saw Franklin stab Brewster, the affidavit says.

When Monique Kali opened the door to the bedroom, she saw her husband between Brewster and Franklin, says the affidavit.

Brewster had blood on his left side and her husband was yelling for Brewster to get out and for Franklin to get back, the affidavit says.

Monique Kali saw Franklin swinging a knife and thought she was going to stab Nakia Kali. She tackled Franklin and knocked the knife from Franklin's hand, she told police.

One of the children picked up the knife and took it from the living room to the kitchen, according to the affidavit.

Brewster managed to get out of the apartment, where he was found by police.

In addition to serious media outlets, the story has been picked up by some less mainstream websites such as Bonnie's Blog of Crime, The Dreamin' Demon Real Life Horror and even Getbig Boldybuilding, Figure and Fitness Forums.

It also headlines lalate.com, which dubbs itself "the fastest growing celebrity news site" with content that is "breaking and exclusive direct from Hollywood."