BARBARA KAY CRAWFORD,
was a daughter, a sister, and a mother of 2.She was also a grandmother.She was born in 1966- a daughter to the founders of CRAWFORD & COMPANY, the world’s largest PUBLICLY TRADED risk management firm.She lived a life suspiciously controlled by outside forces that nobody could ever understand, including her own family-until today.After suspicious circumstances surrounding her death in October 2024 where she had taken refuge in the north Georgia mountains to live a normal life away from status and excess-she passed away alone in her living room.
Strangely, the housekeeper, Joan Fortenberry did not know for several days.For almost exactly one year, nearly to the day of her death, the family, and an attorney hired by the family have been trying to figure out how things like this can happen, or even go overlooked.Atlanta Attorney, Jeremy M. Moeser was retained by Barbara’s family months after her family requested details about how their mother had passed away months after her death.Frank Wilson III, was Barbara’s attorney while she was alive and he had power of attorney over every single affair, including her finances-her access to the outside world, and believe it or not even her own family.Her remains were cremated without the knowledge of her family, and they were not notified of her death until approximately 4 days after.
Moeser issued requests to Frank Wilson as to the status of her remains, and return of her remains and other property that he had taken control of- back to her family.He did not respond.When she was still alive, Barbara often told her children that attorney Frank was their grandfather…
Perhaps he appeared that way to the children because he exerted his control in ways that have made themselves more than apparent.On 12/14/24, he orchestrated a funeral inviting HER children who showed up at HER PROPERTY to grieve the death of THIER MOTHER, after suffering for months of NO ANSWERS..Nearly 2 months after her death, Frank Wilson finally made contact with the family through Barbara‘s housekeeper, telling them he had made an arrangement for a memorial on Barbara’s property on 12/14/2024 and that he would work on taking care of Barbara‘s affairs with the Crawford family as far as what was in her last will and testament and the family trust…Her adult children showed up as per Wilson’s scheduled memorial and so did other family members
He spoke through a security camera, and threatened to do this-PUT THEM ALL IN JAIL…What kind of money does it take to make this happen?Who has this kind of sick, twisted power?FRANK WILSON,
OF WILSON, BROCK, & IRBY, in Atlanta, GEORGIA..YOU ARE NOTIFIEDWe have receipts
We have evidence…We know EXACTLY how HE DID IT.We know WHY he DID IT,AND WE ARE NOW EXPOSING IT ALL.Justice for Barbara.FRANK You were not her father-and no father would do what you did to her.
You destroyed her.You STOLE her legacy to build your own, and her family, HER CHILDREN ARE TAKING IT BACK.4 was a myth. A figment of your imagination.
At 4:44 you will see.
You built everything on lies.
You did it under the flag and under oath.Turn yourself in NOW..
It’s all you have left.
Nobody can save you from your actions-and everyone else you brought into this to make THIS happen..
YOU will feast upon OUR family NO MORE.
You will destroy NO MORE.
It is OVER.
WE, as a family are DONE…
The twisted, WRETCHED foundation THAT YOU built, ON LIES as of 4:44 TODAY.
IT IS NO MORE.
After Barbara Kay Crawford’s rollover automobile accident, she reportedly sustained a traumatic brain injury.
Such injuries can compromise memory, concentration, emotional regulation, and judgment, leaving the individual increasingly reliant on others for decisions about health, finances, and daily life.During this post-injury period, attorney Frank L. Wilson III expanded his involvement in her personal and legal affairs.
The overlap between her cognitive vulnerability and his assumption of authority created circumstances highly conducive to undue influence and exploitation.Witnesses have also described distinct communication patterns used by Wilson in his interactions with Ms. Crawford.
These included repeated verbal sequences, stuttering before giving directives, and physical cues such as tapping or sudden noises.
While not evidence of any external “mind control,” such behaviors are recognized in psychology and criminology as elements of coercive control—methods designed to induce compliance, fear, and confusion through intimidation and conditioned response.Taken together, these medical and behavioral factors indicate that Ms. Crawford was at heightened risk for manipulation and that Wilson’s conduct should be examined in that context.Pattern of Coercive Neglect and Environmental StressIn Ms. Crawford’s later years, caregiver Joan Fortenberry was reportedly employed under the direction of Frank L. Wilson III.
Witnesses indicate that the caregiver’s attendance and actions were at times used to reward or punish compliance with Wilson’s expectations.
Examples include withholding scheduled visits, providing unhealthy food when Ms. Crawford resisted his demands, and failing to address pressing household issues that caused physical and psychological distress.One incident involved a continuous low-battery alarm from the home’s security monitoring system that sounded for several days, preventing sleep and producing extreme agitation.
Despite Ms. Crawford’s repeated calls to Wilson for help, assistance did not arrive until a family member intervened.
At the time, Ms. Crawford’s preexisting brain and spinal injuries made climbing or handling electrical equipment dangerous.
Shortly after this episode, she underwent a leg amputation.
Around the same period, property taxes on her residence were left unpaid, giving the false impression that her finances were depleted.These incidents collectively suggest a pattern of coercive neglect, in which care, comfort, and financial stability were manipulated to maintain dominance and dependence.
Such conduct is consistent with recognized patterns of financial exploitation and psychological abuse of a vulnerable adult.Reference Framework
The behavioral patterns described above are consistent with established literature on coercive control and undue influence.
The following publications and professional guidelines provide context for investigators and evaluators reviewing this material.Selected References
1. Stark, E. (2007). Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life.
Oxford University Press. — Foundational text defining coercive control as a pattern of intimidation, isolation, and micro-regulation of everyday behavior.
2. American Psychological Association (2020). Guidelines on the Evaluation of Undue Influence in Elder and Vulnerable Adult Cases.
Outlines behavioral indicators and assessment criteria for determining when consent or autonomy has been compromised.
3. Freckelton, I., & Diesfeld, K. (2019). “Undue Influence, Vulnerability and the Law.” Journal of Law and Medicine, 27(1), 140-156.
Discusses legal standards for identifying manipulation of cognitively or emotionally impaired individuals.
4. Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), U.S. Department of Justice (2021). Coercive Control and Psychological Abuse: Training Resource Guide.
