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

[Eric's mom]

You need to understand no one, not the family, not friends of Eric's , not the police, not strangers who have heard this story BELIEVE KF. How could anyone believe someone who has repeatedly lied and made up various stories to our family and friends and police. Remember this woman told me, a mother desperately trying to find out what happened to her son, a story she had just told my sister and later told the OH police. She answered questions as tho what she was saying was truth and then later told the police things that were the opposite. Then she completely changed her story when Mr. Patel called her story a lie. She was caught in a lie and had to come up with something. No matter which of her different stories one might believe, they can not all be true, if any of them are.

 

[zwiebel]

I was wondering if it might be helpful at this stage to get to know a little more about Eric as a person, instead of only in relation to being a missing person?

For example, what kind of weather and entertainment he likes, and if he'd ever been abroad?

It may sound irrelevant, but it can matter when it comes to excluding things/places he would NOT have been likely to do. For example, if he hated heat, that might cast a different light on FG's suggestion he went to CA.

Also, how he treated his possessions - did Eric tend to hang onto things and keep them carefully, or have a more carefree attitude?

 

[Nymeria]

I was wondering if it might be helpful at this stage to get to know a little more about Eric as a person, instead of only in relation to being a missing person?

For example, what kind of weather and entertainment he likes, and if he'd ever been abroad?

It may sound irrelevant, but it can matter when it comes to excluding things/places he would NOT have been likely to do. For example, if he hated heat, that might cast a different light on FG's suggestion he went to CA.

Also, how he treated his possessions - did Eric tend to hang onto things and keep them carefully, or have a more carefree attitude?

:goodpost: & Good idea Zwiebel!

 

[SeriouslySearching]

No one can verify a lot of this because there is a missing man who can't say what he did or didn't do and a woman who has told so may conflicting stories than no one knows what is true and what isn't that comes from her mouth.

The information should be obtainable by outside sources instead of coming from Eric or the former girlfriend. LE should know how to investigate without depending on the missing victim or a person of interest's direct statements. It is common for people being investigated to lie to police and it is their job to get to the truth by other means.

 

[Nymeria]

The information should be obtainable by outside sources instead of coming from Eric or the former girlfriend. LE should know how to investigate without depending on the missing victim or a person of interest's direct statements. It is common for people being investigated to lie to police and it is their job to get to the truth by other means.

THAT has been the problem from the get go though.
LE did not do enough, and what they did was not all that efficient, IMO.
That is why Eric's family is trying everything in their own power to find information (including enlisting help from us here at WS).

This case is not the norm, in terms of how LE handled it.

 

[Eric's mom]

I was wondering if it might be helpful at this stage to get to know a little more about Eric as a person, instead of only in relation to being a missing person?

For example, what kind of weather and entertainment he likes, and if he'd ever been abroad?

It may sound irrelevant, but it can matter when it comes to excluding things/places he would NOT have been likely to do. For example, if he hated heat, that might cast a different light on FG's suggestion he went to CA.

Also, how he treated his possessions - did Eric tend to hang onto things and keep them carefully, or have a more carefree attitude?

Eric hated cold weather and he loved CA. He also loved letting his family and friends know about whatever he was doing. He liked to read, watch movies and play video games. He enjoyed keeping in touch with his friends and family. No, he has never been abroad. He hung on to many things, and sometimes he misplaced things just like all of us. I had given him his little red chair when he moved here for his stepson to use.The chair was given to him by his aunt in S.C. when he was about a year old. He brought it here for me to keep for him when he went to MI. I had given him his Christmas ornaments from his first year till he was 18. He brought those here to keep for him. He even brought the pictures, papers and toys that were left when his wife left, so I have them for her. He would never part with a phone or a car just because he needed money. He valued those.

 

[Eric's mom]

The information should be obtainable by outside sources instead of coming from Eric or the former girlfriend. LE should know how to investigate without depending on the missing victim or a person of interest's direct statements. It is common for people being investigated to lie to police and it is their job to get to the truth by other means.

That is exactly what I have said all throughout this ordeal. I was told that one person's statement is just one statement against another person's statement. I said I thought that was the job of the police, to figure out who is telling the truth. I was told that one thing just leads to another thing. Again, I thought that was what an investigation was all about.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

That is exactly what I have said all throughout this ordeal. I was told that one person's statement is just one statement against another person's statement. I said I thought that was the job of the police, to figure out who is telling the truth. I was told that one thing just leads to another thing. Again, I thought that was what an investigation was all about.

And it is, but hearsay is not evidence for exactly the reason told to you. He said/she said without proof (video/audio) is subject to embellishment and bias. It is up to the police to determine the truth, but they are not going to play the "one up" game. They have to go on evidence which requires proof to give it any weight.

There are so many ways they could have obtained evidence to verify official statements and determine exactly what Eric did for the 5 months he was there without any help from either one of them with tons of legwork, paper trails, and credible witnesses. But you have said LE does have a lot of evidence you cannot discuss which led to their conclusion of foul play. If they have that much evidence, LE should move the case from Missing Persons to Homicide.

You mentioned a private investigator at one point. Is this person still on the case?

The cover photo on his Facebook page with the fake thumbnail burning his photo should be investigated as possible evidence, imo. It is a glaring reference to him going missing. With a search warrant, they could find when it was added, information on the origin of the photo, and other valuable data. Without a doubt, there is other pertinent information on his Facebook page only accessible with a warrant. If a person put up a note that said, "I am here and Eric is gone"...wouldn't they jump all over it? It is the message I get from that photo.

His Facebook page is a goldmine of information and possible evidence, imo. Getting his password wouldn't be enough because you need a warrant and a professional in computer forensics in order for evidence found to be used in court I believe. Granted, LE cannot do a fishing expedition on his page. They must have probable cause to get a warrant. (I wish we could have a legal professional weigh in on this. Hmmm...I know we have a couple on WS. Can someone give me a heads up on our legal eagles here?)

 

[Roselvr]

And it is, but hearsay is not evidence for exactly the reason told to you. He said/she said without proof (video/audio) is subject to embellishment and bias. It is up to the police to determine the truth, but they are not going to play the "one up" game. They have to go on evidence which requires proof to give it any weight.

There are so many ways they could have obtained evidence to verify official statements and determine exactly what Eric did for the 5 months he was there without any help from either one of them with tons of legwork, paper trails, and credible witnesses. But you have said LE does have a lot of evidence you cannot discuss which led to their conclusion of foul play. If they have that much evidence, LE should move the case from Missing Persons to Homicide.

You mentioned a private investigator at one point. Is this person still on the case?

The cover photo on his Facebook page with the fake thumbnail burning his photo should be investigated as possible evidence, imo. It is a glaring reference to him going missing. With a search warrant, they could find when it was added, information on the origin of the photo, and other valuable data. Without a doubt, there is other pertinent information on his Facebook page only accessible with a warrant. If a person put up a note that said, "I am here and Eric is gone"...wouldn't they jump all over it? It is the message I get from that photo.

His Facebook page is a goldmine of information and possible evidence, imo. Getting his password wouldn't be enough because you need a warrant and a professional in computer forensics in order for evidence found to be used in court I believe. Granted, LE cannot do a fishing expedition on his page. They must have probable cause to get a warrant. (I wish we could have a legal professional weigh in on this. Hmmm...I know we have a couple on WS. Can someone give me a heads up on our legal eagles here?)

BBM - the FB profile pic has been there before family stopped having contact with him according to his FB friends that can access his profile.

 

[Eric's mom]

Seriously Searching, the PI is a friend of our family who looked into this case for us and talked to the MI State Police. He is keeping his eyes open for us and giving us advice. As for evidence, the police have let us know they will not share all that they know even with the family, as it is an on going investigation. Someday we can see Eric's file. We have been advised by the PI how to handle trying to get a lawyer to obtain a warrant for Eric's facebook info. There is also possible evidence that we are not allowed to discuss. As for looking at Eric's case as a homicide, the police have said for over two yrs now that they think Eric is deceased. They have stated this in the news. Of course, no one knows that for sure and we can still hope that he is alive as long as we don't have absolute proof otherwise. As for the picture of Eric that someone is holding and it is burning, there is no way to know for sure if it means something or is just an artsy picture, but it would be good if the police would check into it. Before he disappeared, we would have probably just thought it was an artsy photo, but now of course it can make us feel it's eerie and possibly holds a message.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Seriously Searching, the PI is a friend of our family who looked into this case for us and talked to the MI State Police. He is keeping his eyes open for us and giving us advice. As for evidence, the police have let us know they will not share all that they know even with the family, as it is an on going investigation. Someday we can see Eric's file. We have been advised by the PI how to handle trying to get a lawyer to obtain a warrant for Eric's facebook info. There is also possible evidence that we are not allowed to discuss. As for looking at Eric's case as a homicide, the police have said for over two yrs now that they think Eric is deceased. They have stated this in the news. Of course, no one knows that for sure and we can still hope that he is alive as long as we don't have absolute proof otherwise. As for the picture of Eric that someone is holding and it is burning, there is no way to know for sure if it means something or is just an artsy picture, but it would be good if the police would check into it. Before he disappeared, we would have probably just thought it was an artsy photo, but now of course it can make us feel it's eerie and possibly holds a message.

Great that you have a PI still to advise and who is active with this case. I think it is so important to have your own investigator. They can check into people and places with discretion and should know the right questions to ask.

I knew you had mentioned getting a lawyer/warrant to access his page, but is it the same as if LE was doing it with a warrant and a computer forensic specialist? Make certain you are clear on being able to use it as evidence later.

There is a distinction between a Missing Person Case and a Homicide Case. It goes beyond them just saying, "We believe it is a homicide". There is usually a transfer to another unit or division. The protocol is different on how the case is handled from then on out. It goes into a criminal phase vs. a search and rescue type case. Homicide Detectives take over the investigation and it rises to a new level because they begin to build a criminal case for subsequent arrests and trial. Some agencies will run parallel investigations from the onset and when a body or evidence is found, move the case to the Homicide Unit exclusively. If they insist on stating it in the media, you should ask why they have not transferred it into Homicide as they claim to have evidence he is deceased. Of course, the standard operating procedure has always been "Ongoing investigation...cannot discuss". Some call it "close to the vest". I call it a convenient way for them to let the case continually drag on and on for years without having to answer to anyone about their investigation.

It is an artsy photo, but with him missing it raises the importance of why it was the last photo on his page and who placed it. Roselvr said it was there before the contact stopped, but that makes it even more curious to me. Does anyone recognize the photo being burned? Is it a photo he used on the internet? It doesn't look like one I have seen yet.

Has anyone spoken to former girlfriend's hair stylist and/or nail salon? People sure like to talk when they are getting pampered for some reason. I heard those professionals glean more info than a bartender on any given day. I would certainly ask if anyone and everyone associated with this case has ever been there to have gel/solar nails done with a french manicure. Sometimes it is all about how you phrase a question to get the desired information.

 

[Roselvr]

Great that you have a PI still to advise and who is active with this case. I think it is so important to have your own investigator. They can check into people and places with discretion and should know the right questions to ask.

I knew you had mentioned getting a lawyer/warrant to access his page, but is it the same as if LE was doing it with a warrant and a computer forensic specialist? Make certain you are clear on being able to use it as evidence later.

There is a distinction between a Missing Person Case and a Homicide Case. It goes beyond them just saying, "We believe it is a homicide". There is usually a transfer to another unit or division. The protocol is different on how the case is handled from then on out. It goes into a criminal phase vs. a search and rescue type case. Homicide Detectives take over the investigation and it rises to a new level because they begin to build a criminal case for subsequent arrests and trial. Some agencies will run parallel investigations from the onset and when a body or evidence is found, move the case to the Homicide Unit exclusively. If they insist on stating it in the media, you should ask why they have not transferred it into Homicide as they claim to have evidence he is deceased. Of course, the standard operating procedure has always been "Ongoing investigation...cannot discuss". Some call it "close to the vest". I call it a convenient way for them to let the case continually drag on and on for years without having to answer to anyone about their investigation.

It is an artsy photo, but with him missing it raises the importance of why it was the last photo on his page and who placed it. Roselvr said it was there before the contact stopped, but that makes it even more curious to me. Does anyone recognize the photo being burned? Is it a photo he used on the internet? It doesn't look like one I have seen yet.

Has anyone spoken to former girlfriend's hair stylist and/or nail salon? People sure like to talk when they are getting pampered for some reason. I heard those professionals glean more info than a bartender on any given day. I would certainly ask if anyone and everyone associated with this case has ever been there to have gel/solar nails done with a french manicure. Sometimes it is all about how you phrase a question to get the desired information.

The friend confirmed it's from when they spoke to him on the phone in MI. The friend was bothered by the profile pic & gave him grief about it

 

[Eric's mom]

Seriously Searching, The PI friend of ours is in TN, so he did some digging long distance by internet and phone. A person in Saginaw has been doing some checking into things for us. Another person in MI is to do some more digging into things for us soon. I wish more had been done and was being done by the investigators in Eric's case. Our family has looked into getting a lawyer to ask a judge for a warrant to access Eric's facebook only because the police have had 3 yrs and still haven't done it. I agree it should be done by them. However, we are making sure anything that could possibly be used as evidence is handled correctly.
Yes, I understand there is a difference in a missing person's case and a homicide. I know they would be handled differently. That is a good question to ask the MI state police. If they are so convinced that Eric was murdered and his car was crushed and that the suspects did a good job of hiding his body, why has this case not been reported as a homicide? I don't know that they said they have evidence that he is deceased, but they have stated they believe he is. That has to be based on more than just the fact that he is missing. I know JC told the police twice early on in the investigation that he thought Eric was dead. We have been told that we can see Eric's file if we want the police to reclassify the case as inactive but not closed.
I have no idea who KF's hairstylist or manicurist is or if she even has one. Her hair in photos doesn't appear to be styled, but everyone gets their hair cut once in a while. The nails can be done at home and look professional. That is a good idea to talk to a hairstylist or manicurist though. Maybe someone who knows that area better can check into that.
I don't recall seeing that picture anywhere else. I wasn't on facebook until recently, but his close facebook friends would know. Maybe the one who is trying to become a Websleuth member ( along with another person close to Eric) will be able to soon. They are waiting for answers to their emails.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

The friend confirmed it's from when they spoke to him on the phone in MI. The friend was bothered by the profile pic & gave him grief about it

And what was the reply?

 

[Eric's mom]

According to a facebook friend of his, Eric changed his profile pic to that one March 3, 2011 and he talked to me on the 9th or 10th about moving out of the motel. I thought the photo looked some like the selfie in Meijers.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

According to a facebook friend of his, Eric changed his profile pic to that one March 3, 2011 and he talked to me on the 9th or 10th about moving out of the motel. I thought the photo looked some like the selfie in Meijers.

I think anything added or changed online near his disappearance date is suspect, but if you spoke to him after it was added...it could be a good sign, imo. So the friend didn't actually speak directly to Eric about the photo on the phone?

I looked carefully and it does not appear to be the same photo as the selfie. His face is not straight on looking into the lens. His eyes are off-centered and looking to the left. Hair looks shorter in front.

 

[WithEyesWideOpen]

Ok...I made it!!! I am here Eric's mom....

 

[Eric's mom]

Ok...I made it!!! I am here Eric's mom....

GREAT! Welcome,WithEyesWideOpen ! We hope you will be able to give us some insight into Eric's disappearance. Thanks for your help.

 

[WithEyesWideOpen]

GREAT! Welcome,WithEyesWideOpen ! We hope you will be able to give us some insight into Eric's disappearance. Thanks for your help.[


I hope I can be of some help....

 

[Nymeria]

:welcome: WithEyesWideOpen!

Nice to have you with us.

PS- Creed fan? Or is your name just a general statement?