Pair arrested in separate incidents related to custody dispute

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kathryn Leith Franken, 30, and Thomas Andrew Ray, 35, were arrested yesterday in separate incidents against the same victim, a woman who shares a child with Ray and is engaged in a custody dispute with him; Ray is also charged with damaging the property of a second victim.

At about 9 a.m. yesterday, the two victims’ vehicles and a trailer were parked outside the female victim’s home while the male victim helped load the female victim’s belongings into the trailer. Ray reportedly drove by the home, and the male victim saw Ray’s vehicle stopped in the roadway near the trailer; the male victim did not recognize Ray or his vehicle, and Ray reportedly drove away.

A short time later, Ray reportedly drove by while both victims were outside, and he yelled at the male victim to stay away from his kid. At that point, the victims noticed that several tires on both vehicles and the trailer had been slashed. Ray allegedly continued to drive by the home, and at one point, he allegedly stopped and got out of his vehicle, causing the male victim to urge the female victim and the children to go inside.

The female victim told the responding Gainesville Police Department officer that she and Ray are involved in a custody battle over their child and that she had not had any contact with Ray since April.

An officer made contact with Ray at his home at about 11 a.m., and post Miranda, Ray reportedly admitted that he had cut the tires because he believed the female victim was moving and he feared that she was taking his child away to go into hiding. He said he moved to Gainesville in June to fight for custody of his child. After arriving at the jail, Ray reportedly said he was willing to go to jail and do whatever it takes to keep his child away from the male victim.

At about 11:49 a.m., Franken, who is reportedly Ray’s girlfriend, drove past the female victim’s residence and then allegedly drove her vehicle toward the female victim at a high rate of speed, but the female victim’s friend was able to pull her out of the way before the vehicle reached her. The female victim said the vehicle was about two feet away from her when her friend pulled her to safety and that she was in fear for her life.

The female victim’s doorbell camera reportedly caught Franken’s vehicle right after the incident. Officers who had investigated the earlier case also reportedly identified the car as belonging to Franken.

Post Miranda, Franken reportedly said she drove by the home to see what was going on. She said she never hit anyone and just wanted to scare the female victim.

Ray has been charged with two counts of property damage. He has an out-of-state criminal history that includes an active warrant out of Kansas. Judge Kristine Van Vorst set bail at $10,000 with requirements to have no contact with the victims and be fitted with a GPS monitor.

Franken has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She has no criminal history, and Judge Van Vorst set bail at $25,000 with requirements to have no contact with the female victim and be fitted with a GPS monitor.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.