MI MI - Eric Franks, 40, Buena Vista Twp, 21 March 2011 - #1

[BetteDavisEyes]

Yes, but if you think about it, who has more of a motive to lie? What does the motel owner have to gain from lying? The gf admitted she was there and took Eric's stuff. The owner saw her, she handed him the key, IIRC.
So, the owner isn't going to gain from having Eric's possessions.
Ah, SF, did Eric wear any jewelry? Did he wear anything, or have anything in his possession, of value? Any family heirlooms, or jewelry passed down thru the family?

I didn't suggest that the motel owner has any reason to lie or covet Eric's belongings, but he is someone who had contact with the missing person more recently than family members and is, perhaps, one of the last people to see Eric prior to his mysterious disappearance. At the time, the motel owner had no reason to think that there was anything amiss, but now that he is aware of a possible criminal investigation into Eric's disappearance, he might be able to offer more about the comings and goings of the motel guest/handyman and exGF. :moo:

 

[Coldpizza]

Bette, you mentioned a fingerprint(s) and that opening up avenues...

What did I miss? Eric's NamUS says no fingerprints available.

Was it on the Atlanta TV website (didn't see anything about Eric at that link, which took forever to load, not sure why)?

Just very recently(like yesterday) a fingerprint was obtained so it may not be updated yet.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Bette, you mentioned a fingerprint(s) and that opening up avenues...

What did I miss? Eric's NamUS says no fingerprints available.

Was it on the Atlanta TV website (didn't see anything about Eric at that link, which took forever to load, not sure why)?

I don't recall having mentioned fingerprints, but searchingfamily said that Eric's mother found a fingerprint on a check that her son had cashed. The post was earlier today (I think), so maybe the fingerprint info will be sent to NamUS for an update to the site.

 

[Coldpizza]

okay... put together a little case map... I put archbold since that was in article and maybe he was headed there (re: thinking about where to post fliers in the future) and also hotel he was at

if we need to add any other points just post them here and I can add them. This is an interactive case map so you can click on the icons to the left and it will take you to the points of interest. (you can also zoom in and out)

http://goo.gl/maps/NEk4G

bumping nurses case map for quick reference

 

[nursebeeme]

yes, thumbprint and dna from a baby tooth (I think it will take time to show up on namUS, no?)

 

[migranny]

Someone in that area knows him, he was there 5 months! Who else stayed in that motel? Even someone at the locale grocery or gas station has to remember him.

 

[Abstar80]

I have sent an email to CCTV Camera Pros to inquire about how long CCTV footage is kept for in the Saginaw County area. New surveillance recordings are usually done on DVR so footage is being kept for longer than it was before.

My other thought is if he lived in the area for 5 months there could be a chance he saw a Dr or went to a pharmacy. If he was under alot of stress from the exGF he may have needed medical intervention. Or if he was looking after a small child he may have needed to get nappies etc for the child. Dr's would have kept a record if he ever attended. He may have left a forwarding address perhaps. If he had a script filled at a pharmacy they should also have a record of it.

 

[Abstar80]

Did I read in a previous comment that Eric had an iphone or android. Is it possible to contact his service provider to see if there is a record of any websites he may have looked at ie Craigslist, bus routes or train timetables..

 

[Abstar80]

One more thought!!!!

Searching, do you know Eric's drivers licence number or able to obtain it. Just thinking you could do a drivers record check here

http://search.dmv.org/dmv/michigan/check-driving-record

That could tell you if he lost his licence, or received any speeding tickets etc when he was in the Saginaw county area...it may lead to another point of reference possibly.

 

[nursebeeme]

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/19484739/police-seek-info-on-man-missing-since-2011

I just found this cbs atlanta (yes georgia) article this morning...!

Why the heck won't LOCAL media run the article??

:furious:

 

[TexasLil]

I ran across this yesterday but am unable to find if the body found just across the Canadian border in May 2011 was ever identified.

http://www.lambtonshield.com/sarnia...body-on-london-line-near-blackwell-side-road/

 

[Cazzie]

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/19484739/police-seek-info-on-man-missing-since-2011

I just found this cbs atlanta (yes georgia) article this morning...!

Why the heck won't LOCAL media run the article??

:furious:

I noticed they've got the wrong car color.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/19484739/police-seek-info-on-man-missing-since-2011

I just found this cbs atlanta (yes georgia) article this morning...!

Why the heck won't LOCAL media run the article??

:furious:

I'm on it, Nurse . Will send some emails.

 

[Bubblyone]

I know there have been some posts regarding fliers. Has/is anyone actually posting fliers? While I live a bit away, I am willing to drive up there this weekend to hang some fliers or whatever is needed. Someone just give me the word, and I will jump on it.

In my opinion, I could maybe believe the "walking away" part, if the egf had not moved the possessions. I too agree the motel manager has no reason to lie. In fact, he could be in some trouble if he let an unauthorized person move possessions.

Can we look back at the egf and her husband again. Do we know where they moved? Were they renting their house or did they own? Was it a planned move or an abrupt move? How long after Eric's disappearance did they move?

I too think water is a possibility. The river a block from my house is so low, you can walk out to the middle...how about the water in Saginaw? Thinking we have much the same weather, so it could be about the same.

 

[searchingfamily]

SF, has anyone gone thru his tweets and checked them for information as well as do they all sound like Eric? No one impersonating him on Twitter?

On Twitter, nothing looks unlike him. FB and Email...questionable, but we'd better leave it at that for now.

 

[longtallcold]

Local media is too busy covering the Milton Hall shooting (the homeless guy that was shot 46 times by cops) - there is a press conf this afternoon regarding charges. And, in another story...a family's golden retriever was shot and killed by another cop (this time in St. Louis, MI.

In regards to the CCTV cameras - the ones in saginaw itself will be no help for the motel in Bridgeport.

 

[searchingfamily]

For me there are only 2 options here.

The ex gf and her hubby disappeared him (but why?)

He left on his own to start a new life ( it happens and he certainly seems strong willed enough to do so)

The challenges with thinking he just left: the car has been on a BOLO for nearly a year. Law enforcement originally told us their experience is it would take no more than 30 days to find IF the car was on the highways and bi-ways. The car now has expired plates. If it was out there on the roads, LE are confident it would have been found by now.

So if he wanted to start a new life (and again, we believe his life to this point doesn't suggest this likelihood) he'd have had to make the car disappear, but then figure out how to get his own transportation, all while having little to no money since he was basically unemployed (w/o gov't benefits) for three straight years.

The motive has been a challenge, to be sure. IF it was about money, he'd have to have some, and he didn't. But let's say he lied and told someone he did. If someone thought he had money and hoped to inherit it if he was gone, they'd need him to be found, not disappeared.

The theory about the possibility of the child bonding and wanting to leave with Eric has crossed our minds as well. Eric made comments to that effect to his mother. Child says otherwise. Either or both could be lying.

 

[searchingfamily]

Yes, but if you think about it, who has more of a motive to lie? What does the motel owner have to gain from lying? The gf admitted she was there and took Eric's stuff. The owner saw her, she handed him the key, IIRC.
So, the owner isn't going to gain from having Eric's possessions.
Ah, SF, did Eric wear any jewelry? Did he wear anything, or have anything in his possession, of value? Any family heirlooms, or jewelry passed down thru the family?

Motel owner has been incredibly consistent no matter who he talked to - Archbold PD, Bridgeport PD, BVPD. Same account every single time. eGF not so much (meaning not at all). In the initial interviews, she told APD different than BVPD about even the MONTH and circumstances she last saw/ heard from Eric. Could there be a benign reason for that? We suppose - police tell us people lie for lots of reasons. But it's where our focus remains.

Only things of value that we can think of are an older laptop and a LG Droid phone. Nothing high-end jewelry-wise. He didn't take much with him when he moved to Michigan. Whatever could be put in a car. He left a few larger items (tv and such) with his mom, planning to come get it once he got a larger place and was settled.

 

[searchingfamily]

One more thought!!!!

Searching, do you know Eric's drivers licence number or able to obtain it. Just thinking you could do a drivers record check here

http://search.dmv.org/dmv/michigan/check-driving-record

That could tell you if he lost his licence, or received any speeding tickets etc when he was in the Saginaw county area...it may lead to another point of reference possibly.

PD has checked. No hits.

 

[searchingfamily]

Did I read in a previous comment that Eric had an iphone or android. Is it possible to contact his service provider to see if there is a record of any websites he may have looked at ie Craigslist, bus routes or train timetables..

The amount of info recovered was less than hoped due to how long it took police to obtain a warrant and pull the info. As so many have said - it's not illegal to go missing, so it took quite some time to convince a judge to allow PD invade Eric's privacy.

They got the call list. We don't feel it's wise to share much about what they found, but..enough was found that it both pointed to his disappearance on Mar. 21, and also heightened our suspicions.