Found Safe WI - SMF, 16, Beaver Dam, 2 Feb 2025 *3 mo's pregnant, believed to be with 40-year-old father of the baby*

[Naenaerae]

It wasn’t discovered she was in Arkansas until December… She was still only 16, wouldn’t the school have at least called her parents about the absences? After months of truancy, wouldn’t the school have reported that to police?

Amber Alert cancelled as Sophia Franklin found safe, Gary Day in custody

UPDATE: BEAVER DAM, Wis. (CBS 58) — The Amber Alert for Sophia Franklin has been cancelled, after the Beaver Dam teen was found safe near Omaha, Nebraska on Wednesday, April 2, her 17th birthday.The

www.cbs58.com

 

[PommyMommy]

FEB 21, 2025

Mother of missing Beaver Dam teen urges daughter to come back

BEAVER DAM, Wis. -- The mother of the missing Beaver Dam teen has urged for her daughter to come back.

www.channel3000.com

Sophia Franklin's family had previously released a statement earlier this month pleading for her to return back home.

This time, however, Leah Franklin, her mother, went on camera.

"We want you home. We want you with us, and to be a part of the family again," said Leah.

Leah continued by saying she wants to witness her daughter's milestones, such as graduating high school and seeing her daughter approach adulthood.

 

[airportwoman]

FEB 20, 2025

Amber Alert cancelled as Sophia Franklin found safe, Gary Day in custody

UPDATE: BEAVER DAM, Wis. (CBS 58) — The Amber Alert for Sophia Franklin has been cancelled, after the Beaver Dam teen was found safe near Omaha, Nebraska on Wednesday, April 2, her 17th birthday.The

www.cbs58.com

Last summer, Sophia didn't return home. Mom called the police. Police checked the McDonalds where she worked, and they found her.

"And so, we couldn't file a missing person's report because we knew where she was," said Leah Franklin.

Weeks went by, then months. Sophie told her parents she was staying with a friend. They gave her space but messaged her regularly.

"We would ask her questions like 'hey you want to come for a bonfire? Hey, do you want to do this?' And the answer was always 'no, I'm working,'" said Leah Franklin.

It's NOT normal for a 16-year-old to not be living with either parent.

 

[Sjöberg]

It's NOT normal for a 16-year-old to not be living with either parent.

As a general statement, I disagree. In many cultures it is the norm, either due to kids being consider mature faster (like in several developing countries), due to boarding schools (like in the UK), or just due to the locations of parents and the desiered school (like in Northern Europe). It does not have to indicate any trouble with the parents and I would think one can also find similar exampls in the US.

However, in this case it really is odd. I think we are lacking some important backstory here, because had they all been a stereotypical famly up upon that point then their lack of actions to locate the daughter would be absurd. I am thinking about the possibilites that she was told to get out as punishment for something or that she had been intermittently staying elsewhere than at home for years by this point (like friends places, or maybe some history with different parental rights or similar).

 

[Tired Professor]

It's NOT normal for a 16-year-old to not be living with either parent.

Sadly, it’s becoming more and more common, and it seems that every situation is different. As a parent of biological children as well as children who are in this situation, I feel like I see this a lot more now than when I was growing up. I am also amazed at how many of these kids really thrive despite not having their parents in their lives.
I do not know the circumstances surrounding Sophia’s home life, but I do wonder why when her parents didn’t force her back home and into some sort of mental health treatment or counseling. Isn’t this legally do-able for a 16 year-old in Wisconsin?

 

[Ontario Mom]

I do not know the circumstances surrounding Sophia’s home life, but I do wonder why when her parents didn’t force her back home and into some sort of mental health treatment or counseling. Isn’t this legally do-able for a 16 year-old in Wisconsin?

I don't know what her home life is like either, but in my experience of raising 7 kids, "forcing" a 16 year to do what you want them to do, will disasterously backfire almost every time, if not every time.

Maybe her parents tried that approach? Maybe her current circumstances are a result of that approach? It's impossible to know, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me.

jmo

 

[Bigditch]

How was Sophia getting to work every day?

 

[Tired Professor]

I don't know what her home life is like either, but in my experience of raising 7 kids, "forcing" a 16 year to do what you want them to do, will disasterously backfire almost every time, if not every time.

Maybe her parents tried that approach? Maybe her current circumstances are a result of that approach? It's impossible to know, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me.

jmo

That’s fair, maybe they did try. In my experience though if a 16 year old needs any help, especially mental health care, you do all that you can to see that they get it soon because when they turn 18, there is nothing you can do as a parent in a situation like this.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

As a general statement, I disagree. In many cultures it is the norm, either due to kids being consider mature faster (like in several developing countries), due to boarding schools (like in the UK), or just due to the locations of parents and the desiered school (like in Northern Europe). It does not have to indicate any trouble with the parents and I would think one can also find similar exampls in the US.

SBMFF. It's not like that in the US. Here, kids have to have a legal guardian until they are 18 years old. If that legal guardian is not a biological parent, then another adult has to be legally appointed to be their guardian. That is the person responsible for their welfare. In cases like boarding school, the school becomes defacto guardian, but that usually only applies to those who are high-income earners, which it doesn't sound like was the case there. Anecdotally, of course there are families in which one kid lives with a friend or whatever, but the kid's parents are still legally on the hook and in such circumstances, the adult in the friend's home is supposed to be a legal guardian. If they don't go through the legal process, then that's a huge problem and enough reason to get DCF involved if something happens.

JMO, but based on the laws in our healthcare system and how it protects pediatric patients.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

That’s fair, maybe they did try. In my experience though if a 16 year old needs any help, especially mental health care, you do all that you can to see that they get it soon because when they turn 18, there is nothing you can do as a parent in a situation like this.

You can't force anyone to get therapy. That isn't really a thing because therapy requires cooperation of the patient.

In limited cases, you can force meds or an inpatient admission only if you go through the court system. I haven't read anything here that suggests any judge would have allowed this in this case.

 

[pukasonqo2]

What is the age of consent in the USA? In Australia is 16 (except for 2 states. where it is 17)

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

What is the age of consent in the USA? In Australia is 16 (except for 2 states. where it is 17)

It's state dependent in the US. No uniform age of consent.

 

[detective.moon]

something i was wondering - was she (supposed to be) going to school while “staying at a friend”? or was she already done with school at 16?

 

[Izzylizzy]

something i was wondering - was she (supposed to be) going to school while “staying at a friend”? or was she already done with school at 16?

I still can't make heads or tails out of what her mother says.
There's no info given on SF's schooling during her missing 5 months when she was with GFD in Arkansas.



"Sophia went to a private school in Wisconsin. After she violated the school's internet-usage policy, the family decided she would not return to the school this past fall, according to her mom.

The first time Day took Sophia from her Wisconsin home, Sophia was in contact with her family, texting and calling them frequently. She told them she was staying with friends in Beaver Dam, Leah Franklin said. Because she was no longer attending the private school, Sophia asked her parents if she could enroll in a homeschooling program in Wisconsin.

They agreed, hoping it would "appease her" and help in their efforts to get her home, Leah Franklin said."

Mother of missing Beaver Dam teen Sophia Franklin fears she'll never see her again

An AMBER Alert for Sophia Franklin and Gary Day is now active in Wisconsin, Arkansas and Missouri.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Tired Professor]

DBM

 

[Tired Professor]

You can't force anyone to get therapy. That isn't really a thing because therapy requires cooperation of the patient.

Totally aware of that, Just hoping they at least tried to offer her the option of going.

 

[Tired Professor]

What is the age of consent in the USA? In Australia is 16 (except for 2 states. where it is 17)

For most states it is 18 like it is in Wisconsin, but it appears to be only 16 in Arkansas.

Age of consent in the United States - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Ontario Mom]

That’s fair, maybe they did try. In my experience though if a 16 year old needs any help, especially mental health care, you do all that you can to see that they get it soon because when they turn 18, there is nothing you can do as a parent in a situation like this.

I'm not sure if I've missed some detail (certainly possible) but I didn't realize this young woman was in need of mental health care.

 

[Herat]

I still can't make heads or tails out of what her mother says.
There's no info given on SF's schooling during her missing 5 months when she was with GFD in Arkansas.



"Sophia went to a private school in Wisconsin. After she violated the school's internet-usage policy, the family decided she would not return to the school this past fall, according to her mom.

The first time Day took Sophia from her Wisconsin home, Sophia was in contact with her family, texting and calling them frequently. She told them she was staying with friends in Beaver Dam, Leah Franklin said. Because she was no longer attending the private school, Sophia asked her parents if she could enroll in a homeschooling program in Wisconsin.

They agreed, hoping it would "appease her" and help in their efforts to get her home, Leah Franklin said."

Mother of missing Beaver Dam teen Sophia Franklin fears she'll never see her again

An AMBER Alert for Sophia Franklin and Gary Day is now active in Wisconsin, Arkansas and Missouri.

www.yahoo.com

I wonder if the private school in Wisconsin that SF was attending was far away and she was a resident there, rather than living at home.

That might explain how the estrangement from her parents was extended into a 5 month lie about living in the same town and not returning home.

 

[Bigditch]

I do not recall reading about a private school, nor a mental health issue.