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

[searchingfamily]

We are not in the habit of checking this website regularly, but whomever told you that the family is not cooperating in the investigation was entirely wrong - it could be more accurately stated that the Buena Vista Police Department is no longer cooperating with OUR investigation.

With any further leads, please contact MI State Police Det/Sgt. Gary Thomas at (989) 495-5560. Case number 31-495-13

https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/17348/4

 

[searchingfamily]

Hopefully some of you saw this news report by ABC 12's Terry Camp last week - http://www.abc12.com/story/25081701/no-sign-of-eric-franks-missing-for-more-than-3-years

 

[psyquestor]

Thank you for the update. My prayers are with your family.

 

[Eric's mom]

He moved to MI in late 2011. Still had Ohio plates on the car.

Eric left Ohio for MI Oct.25, 2010.

 

[Eric's mom]

The detective finally called me back today and I gave him the info. He said the State of MI is taking over the case and he would pass my tip along to the detective now on the case. He did say that the family was no longer cooperating with the investigation.

Eric's family asked MI state police in charge of Eric's case about this tip. The police knew about the tip about a month before the family knew. The police said they were trying to decide how to handle the tip, but they were busy with a trial. So, Eric's family called Lansing shelters and faxed missing posters to them. Even though the police and Eric's family believe he is no longer alive, every tip should be followed up on.

 

[Eric's mom]

Eric's family appreciated the concern that remains found in GA could possibly be those of Eric. We viewed the clay model of what the person may have looked like and agreed there was a resemblance. I called the GA # listed and talked with the coroner's office. They connected me to the investigating officer who was there when remains were found. He assured me it could not be Eric because some of the remains were found in 2009 and some in 2012. Eric was in Ohio in 2009. The officer was very kind and asked that we send a missing poster anyway. The officer told me they think the remains are of a man in Mexico and they are in touch with his mother.

 

[ktgirl]

Eric's mom & family,
I'm sorry that LE seems to be giving you the run around & not taking Eric's case seriously. I haven't forgotten about Eric's case and am always hoping for a development. Sending you positive energy & thoughts.

 

[Eric's mom]

I posted flyers a while ago for Eric's family, in Buena Vista, rest areas, homeless shelters and areas of Flint along with a few areas that we were guided to. The cops didn't know we did this and that night the media showed up and kind of caught them off guard on the news. It didn't seem to spur them into action.

I thought the family went to speak with detectives after that but can't recall the outcome. I think they posted it on here.

Missing in Michigan was this past Sunday in East Lansing. I was going up with a friend for a few other people and remembered I had extra flyers. I put them on tables and I gave them to State Police who works the west side of the state on Jessica Heeringa but said he would check and see if he was in the proper databases. I spoke with the FBI, gave him a few flyers and he mentioned I could contact Buena Vista Police mentioned on the flyer. Well, I went out on a rope and said I didn't think there had been much help there, no evidence of foul play found yet. So I dropped a few "lugs" (true as far as I can tell) in hopes to get his attention more, like across state lines. I mentioned the movie database he was listed in and that I had found a couple of other missing/dead people listed in it as well. I mentioned web cam deal, his scorned woman in Ohio who I think managed her. She posted pictures when his family reported him missing of her crying until January of that year. Then, she was bent over in a rear end pose, with her flipping the bird behind her and a heart photoshopped on her rear. Above her....the same picture that was on Eric's homepage above the lamp. So since no new changes, I put it out there. I so wonder where he was when that was taken.

Scorned woman/wifey has a google photo account. It did seem that Eric's last post was fake to me, grab your ankles and kiss it goodbye. Especially after not posting for a while. Then the fake twitter accounts trying to make it looked like he went to California. The hinky meter alarm is on. I share my observations about this trying to get his interest. So I am asking if he could please check to see if he was in the proper databases? He said he would and took a couple of flyers. I do think he will do that.

I also found out someone else had posted flyers for him on a few tables. I asked who but couldn't find the 2 women who were there. Just wanted to introduce myself if it was family as I had a bit of contact with them earlier.

I sense fear on the part of the people who left and Eric's family. His daughter's maternal grandfather was a cop in the area. Grandpa may of told his daughter to get of out town it's too dangerous.

I don't know what is going on but his name is still out there, kind of.....I am at a loss of what to do to help him.

Four members of Eric's family attended the Missing in MI forum. I was pleased to meet with the NAMUS representative with whom I had talked on the phone several times at length. She obviously loves her work and I appreciated her so much. She, along with family and police, have been trying to get Eric's dental records for over 2 yrs. Eric was adopted as an infant and I gave one of his baby teeth for DNA. I also gave a thumbprint. We appreciated that someone had put missing posters out . It was a tearful experience to be there, but good to talk to other families with missing loved ones and share thoughts.

 

[Eric's mom]

Hello Sleuths, I am new here so please forgive if this is not an appropriate post.

I've found a possible match with this case: https://identifyus.org/en/cases/9826
There is a resemblance to EF. Height weight are undetermined on U IM.

I'm searching through the database and looking for any possible matches.

Did I see here someplace that EF had dentures? I could not find that information entered into NamUs.

Thank you in advance for the information.

Yes, Eric had just gotten full dentures shortly before going to MI. Namus has been trying to get his dental xrays for over 2yrs. I have made numerous calls back and forth from Eric's dentist to NAMUS. The police originally didn't think the xrays were necessary, even though NAMUS said they were. The hold up now seems to be technicalities with the dental lawyers because of the privacy laws.

 

[Eric's mom]

Eric's mom & family,
I'm sorry that LE seems to be giving you the run around & not taking Eric's case seriously. I haven't forgotten about Eric's case and am always hoping for a development. Sending you positive energy & thoughts.

During the first year when the Buena Vista police had Eric's case, the family was told not to put up missing posters or get on tv. We listened to their advice even though we knew that didn't sound right. We didn't want to hurt Eric's case. The lead detective advised us that it could hurt the case. A private investigator recently told us he had never heard of such a thing! I can't tell you how may times we've been told that the police are busy with other cases. I was told that there were "local" cases they would come up when the original detective was trying to work on Eric's case. Eric was not from MI, but he disappeared there and I believe his case was local. I appreciated what was done to find Eric, but some tips have still not been researched as they should be.

 

[Eric's mom]

Hopefully some of you saw this news report by ABC 12's Terry Camp last week - http://www.abc12.com/story/25081701/no-sign-of-eric-franks-missing-for-more-than-3-years

Eric's family considers Terry Camp with Channel 12 in Saginaw a blessing. He has continued a strong interest in Eric's disappearance since we first met him and he interviewed family members for a story. He has spent much time on helping the family find answers.

 

[Eric's mom]

Four members of Eric's family attended the Missing in MI forum. I was pleased to meet with the NAMUS representative with whom I had talked on the phone several times at length. She obviously loves her work and I appreciated her so much. She, along with family and police, have been trying to get Eric's dental records for over 2 yrs. Eric was adopted as an infant and I gave one of his baby teeth for DNA. I also gave a thumbprint. We appreciated that someone had put missing posters out . It was a tearful experience to be there, but good to talk to other families with missing loved ones and share thoughts.

Where did the suggestion that " the maternal grandfather was a former police officer" come from? Thanks

 

[Eric's mom]

I saw that longtall, but they do not know for a certainty that the items found (I didn't see that they described "remains") are related; only that they were found nearby earlier.

Thanks for the reply.

*edited to say that I double checked and you are correct, there were other remains discovered in 2009 that may be related. I wonder why they didn't conduct tests to include or disprove the relationship? Odd.

According to the investigating officer that I spoke with, DNA proved the remains found in 2009 and those found in 2012 are the same man.

 

[psyquestor]

According to the investigating officer that I spoke with, DNA proved the remains found in 2009 and those found in 2012 are the same man.

Thank you Eric's Mom.

I often go through the database of UIM searching for anyone with a resemblance, in the off chance something comes up. Although this one was a long shot, I still felt there were enough similarities to look further.

I will keep searching until he is brought home to you. I lost a son myself and the only thing I can imagine being worse, is not knowing what happened. My heart and prayers are with you and your family.

 

[Eric's mom]

Also, can someone help to get Eric into Namus?

Eric was entered into NAMUS early on in the investigation. Eric was adopted as an 8 wk old infant, so family couldn't give DNA. I gave NAMUS a baby tooth of Eric's and they were able to obtained plenty of DNA from it I was told. I also sent his thumbprint which was entered in the proper records. Thanks for your concern.

 

[Eric's mom]

Thank you Eric's Mom.

I often go through the database of UIM searching for anyone with a resemblance, in the off chance something comes up. Although this one was a long shot, I still felt there were enough similarities to look further.

I will keep searching until he is brought home to you. I lost a son myself and the only thing I can imagine being worse, is not knowing what happened. My heart and prayers are with you and your family.

I am sorry for your lose. I appreciate your concern and help. My husband passed away in 2006, my mother 5 mos later , my only brother 9 mos later and then Eric vanished. I know what happened to my other family members, but I have imagined everything with Eric.
I will remember you in my prayers also.

 

[psyquestor]

Thank you Eric's Mom for the prayers. I'm sorry that you've been through so many losses in such a short time; I cannot begin to imagine. ((((((hugs)))))))

I don't know if you had seen this article about a leg bone found in a park in Northern Lower Michigan. I have not seen anything more about it. Many of us had thought of Eric and also Jacob Cabinaw when the news was posted. I've never found the bone listed in the Namus either to see if DNA comparisons have been done.

http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=970384#.Uz9fNPldVwv

 

[Eric's mom]

No, I had not heard about the discovery of a leg bone, but I appreciate your mentioning it. We will ask the MI state police detective in charge of Eric's case about it. We were told we would not be notified about remains found until an absolute ID was made. I can see the reason for that. It is such a roller coaster experience anyway. However, someone with the MI state police and NAMUS did mention a body that was found months ago and she asked me if my son had metal pins in his back. She was not the person I normally talked to and obviously was not "up" on Eric's case or she would have known for sure that he did not. Thank you for your kind words. Sometimes talking helps.

 

[Eric's mom]

I was just guessing that jealously could have existed if he and the mother were reconnecting. It was just a guess

Neither Eric or his former girlfriend were married when this child apparently was conceived.( There has been no DNA done.)Both married other people later on.

 

[Eric's mom]

searching - welcome, and sorry it's under these circumstances....

A couple of questions if you can/will answer...

Has the gf been cleared? Were there any issues with other men in her life (jealousy)? What did Eric do for a living? Also, any drug issues?

Just trying to get a little background in order to determine a path to start down.... thanks in advance if you can or want to answer. I live very close to saginaw, and it's too bad it took so long....if there had been a BOLO for his vehicle, maybe?

Persons of interest have not been cleared as far as we know. Basically nothing has changed since the beginning of the investigation. Eric's former girlfriend has given at least 5 detailed different stories to at least 6 different people placing Eric in different counties in different months as to when he was alive. The last time a reliable witness saw Eric was March 14,2011 when he went in to pay a week's rent at Miller's Motel in Saginaw. That witness, the owner of the motel, has been consistent with his story to family, police and the news. According to the former girlfriend's husband in conversations with family, there were "others". According to police to family, there was jealousy.