(I cannot find any concrete information on how Francine is doing now. I have read rumors and innuendos that she had hard times after this, with drugs and domestic violence still. I cannot confirm this. Nor can I find any pictures of Francine or Mickey. If I do, I will post them.)
Wikipedia: The Burning Bed
A. The Excuse Defense
How Did The Burning Bed Help Bring Light to the Issue?
Ballad of Francine Hughes lyrics
Books
The Burning Bed, The True Story Of Francine Hughes- A Beaten Wife Who Rebelled
Movies/Documentaries
The Burning Bed
[The video below is The Ballad of Francine Hughes by Lyn Turner. Very nice song. She tells a bit about it first]
There is a book called “Small Sacrifices”. It is the Story of Diane Downs. She shot all three of her children killing one and injuring the other two for life. She even escaped from prison for about 11 days. She blamed it on the Shaggy Haired Stranger, but it was her. All this over a man! Sad, but true story. In the end the prosecuting attorney adopted her two surviving children. They are now grown with families of their own now.
By: Karrie on February 26, 2008
at 7:00 pm
Another good “true story” is the “Twelfth of Never” the story of Dan and Betty Broderick and their divorce. Stunning!
By: Teresa on July 20, 2008
at 5:36 pm
another nice read, is:” There Are No Mountains In Mid Michigan”. dont recall author
By: Richie on September 5, 2008
at 12:52 am
i am new to this site and i apoligise.my mother and francine were best freinds,for most part of my early child hood in mid michgan area,my parents divorced. my mother took us kids back west to kalamazoo,and we lost contact with francine for 30 yrs.i also as a child/parent have indured the scars of domestic violence,upon my mother,and my eldest sons mother,whom in aug of 2002 in kalamazoo mi was found dead nude, with blunt force trauma to the torso beyond recongnition.what kind of a society do will live in,that horros of this magnitude exist.men what have you turned into,that you cant just leave,a relatioship with out battering.forever in morn and fear.
By: Richie on September 5, 2008
at 1:06 am
Try this
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20088845,00.html
By: Cindy on November 10, 2008
at 8:19 pm
Richie I am very sorry to hear about the abuse your family went through and the loss you have taken. I can’t understand why someone would be so abusive. The only thing that comes to mind is insanity. Insanity has no limits or boundaries and that is the scary part. I have been in an abusive relationship myself. I know that the court system may have changed but now piece of paper will ever change the mind of an insane person. I feel it can sometimes turn them to pure rage. Francine is a person that deserves peace and love. I hope she is getting all of that right now. May God bless her and her children. I will keep you in my prayers Richie.
By: Beth on February 19, 2009
at 1:21 am
The most intimate and painful aspects of the lives of this woman and her children have been portrayed in film and book. She and her children will be forever damaged. The little we could do to support their recovery would be to not intrude further on their privacy.
By: Denise Murphy on March 26, 2009
at 8:45 am
Here is an article I found on Francine and her family. It’s quite a few years old, but is pretty informative.
http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20088845,00.html
By: IndyGena on April 15, 2009
at 9:01 am
I wish more women would do as I did, my husband beat me up one time and got 1 year in prison. I divorced him while he was in there. We as women don’t need to be victims we need to be stong and stand up for ourselves no matter what crap he may make you believe. You are worth something. Don’t buy into his feelings of inadequacy, because that’s what they are, and that’s why they try to put it on you. Abuse be it mental, verbal or physical needs to be stopped. We can stop it, there is help out there .
By: dee sparks on April 29, 2009
at 11:23 am
I am Richie’s neice Nikki, My grandma told me the whole story about the burning bed, my grandma lived next door to francine in dansville, she said her and her husband were always fighting…its really sad what happened to her I hope she has found in this experience a peace of mind…hell i would of done it too…you can only take so much from someone….i grew up watching my mom get abused, she is still to this day with the guy, but im so greatful that it came to a stop…being the only reason why is because i called the cops on him and he hated all the fines he had to pay…yeah what a jerk…but i told him as long as i live you will never touch my mother again without paying for it…and so far its been good…i went a long time without sticking up for my mom because i was afraid of him but like i said you can only take so much…everyone in my family had to grow up around abusive drunks like my uncle rich said…everybody was abused and some were molested… [four of those horrible men are six feet under where they belong]my mom and my aunt anita told me some horrible stories about when they were little but things seem to be a lot better now for everyone…i just hop it stays that way…we all reside in kalamazoo, michigan except my uncle rich…he lives in kentucky
By: Nikki on May 14, 2009
at 9:21 pm
It is my honest belief that all men hit. I have tried to love 3 men and all of them have hit me… not at first, but hey eventually the new must wear off. I usually go to the bedroom and try to cover my head with the blankets. It’s like living in your own little world, til he comes into the bedroom looking for you… But I have to pay the bills somehow so leaving is not an option. As far as the courtsystem-what a joke!!! What do they want you to do hit this big man over the head with that little piece of paper that they give you-you know the one I’m talking about the “DO NOT DO IT PAPER-OR THE POLICE WILL COME TO GET YOU” the police will come AND lock you both up so don’t bother calling at risk of going to jail yourself!!!I work for a lawyer and it happens to me all of the time. I’ve gotten good at excuses for bruises, bumps and knocks from the hands of the man that “loves me”. I’ve gotten really good at makeup. Good luck to all of you. I pray daily for deliverance.
By: christi on June 26, 2009
at 1:39 pm
christi,
I am sorry for the experiences you have had. But not all men do hit. My husband has NEVER laid a hand on me, in violence or anger. Ever. And he would not to any woman. There are good men out there. I am sorry you have not met one yet. I hope you do one day.
By: mylifeofcrime on June 26, 2009
at 3:38 pm
I have had a couple experiences with the US court system and have come to the conclusion that if a person truly want justice they better have a lot of money because with out it you’re sunk. I made up my mind if a man ever hit me out of aggression I would be the last person they ever hit. If anyone ever molested my children there would be no trial because no body would ever be found. Our so called justice system in this country has become so out of line of what is right or wrong they have made the victim the criminal and the criminal has been given all the rights and made the victim. Something has to change or vigilantism will be on a rapid come back.
By: A Mother on July 4, 2009
at 10:00 am
Christi, I am so sorry you are being hurt by the man who “loves” you. I was abused by my first boyfriend, and stayed with him for 6 years (it took a year of counseling to make my break). I didn’t believe that I’d ever find anyone to truly love me, because he’d beaten it into me that I was ugly, worthless, etc. However, just over 10 years later, I’ve married a wonderful man who would never ever hurt me. Not even the “accidents” that I had repeatedly as a younger woman. Please believe that you’re worth more than your husband is showing you. There is more to life than hiding and covering up injuries.
By: Audrey on July 5, 2009
at 7:48 pm
First let me say- Christi, Not all men hit. I am sorry you went through that. I am praying for you.
Next, My Mom grew up near the Hughes family, she told me Mickey was a mean bastard, but also that his parents were also abusive to Francine. My Mom use to babysit for Otis Hughes, Mickey’s brother, and knew Francine, she said she never saw Francine without some kind of bruise somewhere.
By: Vicki on July 9, 2009
at 6:02 am
Vicki,
Thanks for letting us know this. I suspected as much, especially about Mickey’s parents.
By: mylifeofcrime on July 9, 2009
at 8:43 am
I just finished reading the Burning Bed, and saw the movie 20 years ago. It got me to thinking, was Francine ever able to make peace after all she endured. Are the Hughes still alive?What became of her grown children? Was Berlin abusive toward Flossie? Mickey learned violence from someone. Interesting reading the comments about real neighbors of the Hughes.Hope all were able to move on in there life.
By: Jenny on July 14, 2009
at 8:48 pm
lastest i have found on this http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090928/NATIONAL/909280323/1006/NEWS
By: lynnh61554 on October 6, 2009
at 11:42 am