Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Franklin Bennett Roof |
| Also described as | Benn Roof |
| Date of birth | Not publicly available |
| Occupation | Carpenter, construction contractor (reported) |
| Known for | Public attention as father of Dylann Storm Roof |
| Marriages / partners | Amelia “Amy” Cowles; later married Paige Mann (reported 1999, later divorced) |
| Children | Amber Roof, Dylann Storm Roof, Morgan Roof |
| Residence (reported) | South Carolina area; brief residence in Florida Keys circa 2005 to 2008 |
| Public profile | Low prior to 2015; increased visibility 2015 to 2017 during criminal case reporting |
Biography and Early Life
According to public documents and reports, Franklin Bennett Roof was a working carpenter who maintained a low profile until family occasions raised awareness of his home. He is characterized as a contractor and carpenter by trade, a hands-on occupation that uses wood to create shelter and services. Specific information regarding his birth, childhood, education, and early employment is not publicly accessible. The general outline of a life lived in practical terms—tools, jobs, and the rhythms of local work—emerges from public reports.
Around the late 1980s, he reportedly started dating Amelia “Amy” Cowles, and the family grew to include children who would subsequently be featured in media reports. He is said to have wed Paige Mann in November 1999. Later, that marriage ended in divorce, and during subsequent reporting, court documents from those proceedings were made public. According to public accounts, the household went through typical transitions including marriages, divorces, moves, and the minor tragedies of everyday life. For his early years, there aren’t many dates in public records, but those that do exist serve as a foundation for the later, more well-known events.
Family and Personal Relationships
Family life forms the clearest public window into Franklin Bennett Roof. His household included at least three children who have been named in public reporting: Amber, Dylann, and Morgan. The ties are simple to state and complicated to live.
| Family member | Relationship | Notable public details |
|---|---|---|
| Amelia “Amy” Cowles | Mother of some children; partner early on | Reported to have worked locally; part of family narratives in press |
| Amber Roof | Daughter / older sister | Reported to have been engaged and to have had wedding plans impacted by public events |
| Morgan Roof | Daughter / younger sister | Reported in some local news items for later incidents in youth |
| Dylann Storm Roof | Son | Central figure in national news; public reporting connects Franklin as his father |
| Paige Mann (Hastings) | Stepmother; married Franklin in 1999 (reported) | Marriage lasted about a decade and later ended in divorce with court filings in public record |
Public reporting notes that a sister recognized a vehicle or surveillance image that helped identify a family member in a high profile criminal matter. Court filings connected to marriages and divorces referenced tensions and allegations that surfaced in the record. These items are not biographical color so much as shards of paper that show family weathering conflict like any other, but under the glare of national attention those private fractures became public text.
Career, Financial Status, and Public Achievements
Prior to 2015, Franklin Bennett Roof was known as a local craftsman. He is frequently described as a builder and carpenter. Instead of focusing on headlines, that work implies consistent but modest earnings reflected in contracts and payments. The public image does not include any records of significant economic holdings, honors, official positions, or corporate leadership.
The family is described as working class in the reporting’s financial descriptions. His name is not associated with any public indications of significant wealth, noteworthy real estate holdings, or high net worth. A guy recognized by the work of his hands rather than by a ledger or a brand is depicted here, demonstrating effort rather than legacy.
Public Attention, Timeline, and Key Dates
The timeline of public attention is narrow and concentrated. The family lived largely outside national view until a criminal event involving his son brought intense scrutiny. Below is a compact timeline formed from public dates that frame the period of heightened visibility.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Circa 1988 | Franklin meets Amelia “Amy” Cowles; early family formation reported |
| April 3, 1994 | Birth of son Dylann Storm Roof |
| November 1999 | Franklin reportedly married Paige Mann |
| 2005 to 2008 (approx) | Family reported to have lived in the Florida Keys for a period |
| June 2015 | A major criminal event involving Dylann produced national headlines and family scrutiny |
| 2015 to 2017 | Court proceedings, trials, and heavy media coverage referenced the family and its background |
| Post 2017 | Family mentioned mainly in retrospective coverage and legal updates |
Those dates are like the planks of a dock; much of the water around them is private and uncharted. The concentrated period of reporting from 2015 to 2017 moved the family from local anonymity to national conversation, and then slowly back toward a quieter life as the spotlight faded.
Public Mentions and Media Presence
Before 2015 the public footprint was minimal. After 2015 the name Franklin Bennett Roof appeared primarily in background descriptions of a family affected by tragedy and legal processes. Mentions clustered around court dates and news cycles that tracked legal developments. There is no evidence of a managed media presence, public advocacy work, or a public social media platform attributable to him that generated sustained attention. The family was treated in reporting as participants in a larger story, not as public figures with their own ongoing public projects.
FAQ
Who is Franklin Bennett Roof?
Franklin Bennett Roof is a carpenter and construction contractor who appears in public reporting as the father of Dylann Storm Roof.
Who are his immediate family members?
His immediate family includes Amelia “Amy” Cowles, children Amber Roof, Dylann Storm Roof, and Morgan Roof, and a reported marriage to Paige Mann in 1999 that later ended in divorce.
What is his occupation and financial status?
He is described as a working carpenter and contractor; public accounts portray the family as working class without indications of significant wealth.
Why did he become publicly known?
He entered national view when his son became the subject of a major criminal case in June 2015 and media coverage referenced the family and its background.
Are there recent news items about him?
Public attention centered mainly on 2015 to 2017; later mentions are largely retrospective or tied to legal developments concerning his son, not new stories about him personally.
