Aretha Franklin's Son Severely beaten

DETROIT – Aretha Franklin's son was severely beaten at a gas station in
Detroit, the singing legend's spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Eddie Franklin, who is in his 50s, was attacked Monday night, Gwendolyn
Quinn said in a statement. A witness said two men and a woman may have been
involved in the attack, according to the statement, which did not identify
the witness or address a possible motive.

Quinn told The Associated Press early Tuesday morning she didn't have any
information beyond the written statement.

A woman who was with Franklin told police she went into the gas station and
when she returned, he had been attacked, police spokeswoman Eren Stephens
said. The woman then drove Franklin to a hospital, dropped him off and
headed to a police station to file a report, police said.

Quinn's statement said Franklin was undergoing surgery early Tuesday, but
Detroit police said he wasn't at the hospital when investigators stopped by.

They were told Franklin "walked out on his own," Stephens said.

The AP left multiple messages for Quinn on Tuesday, seeking updated
information. A hospital spokeswoman confirmed someone named Eddie Franklin
was treated there but wasn't able to offer details.

Stephens said it wasn't entirely clear what had happened and investigators
want to talk to Franklin.

"We really need to talk to him, because he's the one who was assaulted," she
said. "We would advise him to come in and make (a report), but it's
voluntary."

Aretha Franklin, 68, known as the Queen of Soul, is one of the most honored
musicians in American history, having won numerous Grammys, the National
Medal of Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and induction into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame.

Her hits include "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "Chain of Fools"
and her signature song, "Respect."

Eddie Franklin was considered a suspect in a 2002 arson fire at his mother's
10,000-square-foot suburban Detroit home, but Michigan Attorney General Mike
Cox's office never charged him.

Eddie Franklin's lawyer at the time, William Mitchell III, described him
Tuesday as someone who needs a lot of "support care — people to get him
around from this place to that place" but did not explain exactly what that
meant.

"Mrs. Franklin is very, very, very, very, very protective of him," Mitchell
added.

Eddie Franklin also is a singer, having recorded in the past with his
mother.