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

[Izzylizzy]

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.

IMO
A runaway 16 yr female who went to live with a 40 yr old male predator for 5 months and was returned home by LE pregnant would be prime for mental health counseling.
I wish that SF had been/could have been appointed some kind of advocate through the court when her parents got the "no contact order" with GFD.
She went right back into the home situation that she bolted from and the rest is history.

 

[Herat]

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

The news report posted says she attended a private school in Wisconsin, but it does not specify where that school was.

"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."

I'd note that she seems to have been claiming she was enrolled in a homeschooling program in Wisconsin, but was not being homeschooled by her parents. This could actually be the time she was actually in Arkansas with Day, but claimed she was working at McDonalds near her home and living with a friend.

Why her parents didn't go check on her living arrangements is puzzling.

 

[Bigditch]

The news report posted says she attended a private school in Wisconsin, but it does not specify where that school was.

"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."

I'd note that she seems to have been claiming she was enrolled in a homeschooling program in Wisconsin, but was not being homeschooled by her parents. This could actually be the time she was actually in Arkansas with Day, but claimed she was working at McDonalds near her home and living with a friend.

Why her parents didn't go check on her living arrangements is puzzling.

Source please. Thank you.

 

[Herat]

Source please. Thank you.

Please see post #454.

 

[Izzylizzy]

The news report posted says she attended a private school in Wisconsin, but it does not specify where that school was.

"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."

I'd note that she seems to have been claiming she was enrolled in a homeschooling program in Wisconsin, but was not being homeschooled by her parents. This could actually be the time she was actually in Arkansas with Day, but claimed she was working at McDonalds near her home and living with a friend.

Why her parents didn't go check on her living arrangements is puzzling.

BBM:

I'm curious if CPS was called in by LE or the courts due to the parents not investigating where their minor daughter was for 5 months and it turned out she was in another state with a 40 yr old predator who was also a convicted felon of child abuse/DV.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

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

I'm sure there used to be rules even at 16. Pretty sure the other party had to be no more than 2 years older, which essentially meant you were both pretty much at the same maturity level, so more of an even playing field if you will. I've just googled and it seems those laws are no longer in place, and at 16 you can legally consent to doing the deed with someone your grandparents age if you like. This saddens me, because at 16 you're still very vulnerable to grooming and sleazy behaviour by a much older partner.

 

[Tealgrove]

There’s just so much going on here.

Sophia needs to be found. Abuser needs to go to jail. Sophia needs counselling and support, physically and mentally.

There’s obviously a problem at home. We don’t really know the substance of it but the entire family needs counselling IMO.

MOO

 

[Izzylizzy]

This is what I don't understand.
I would think that GFD could have been charged for taking a minor over state lines w/o their parent's permission?
Like in kidnapping a minor.


"But Day could only be arrested for interference with custody, because the age of consent in Arkansas is 16 years old. Day then bonded out, and police believe he picked up Franklin again, prompting the Amber alert."

Amber Alert issued for missing pregnant teen Sophia Martha Franklin in Wisconsin

Sophia Martha Franklin, 16, is three months pregnant, and is believed to be with 40-year-old Gary F. Day, the father of her unborn child. Day is facing a no contact order for Sophia.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Bigditch]

IMO sounds like Sophia was running the whole show.

What show? She is a child.

 

[Andreee]

What show? She is a child.

Yes. If anything, the predator is running the whole 'show.'

 

[borndem]

The news report posted says she attended a private school in Wisconsin, but it does not specify where that school was.

"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."

I'd note that she seems to have been claiming she was enrolled in a homeschooling program in Wisconsin, but was not being homeschooled by her parents. This could actually be the time she was actually in Arkansas with Day, but claimed she was working at McDonalds near her home and living with a friend.

Why her parents didn't go check on her living arrangements is puzzling.

Indeed. There seems to be a lot going on with this family. So sad.

 

[airportwoman]

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).

I'm talking about in the U.S.

 

[legomonster]

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

It's become more common because of addiction issues. I'm one of those kids who lived separately and both parents moved out of state. It happens. I'm from Florida. I knew of other kids that did same. Our grades went up because we finally had a stable roof over our heads to do homework. Every single situation there were siblings who didn't want to be separated nor put in a situation that could be much worse. Most don't hear about it because they don't want to be separated, nor want any more light put on a difficult situation.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

IMO
A runaway 16 yr female who went to live with a 40 yr old male predator for 5 months and was returned home by LE pregnant would be prime for mental health counseling.

Mental health counseling/therapy is about understanding our own behavior and where it stems from to make changes. It will only be successful with full buy-in from the patient, meaning she has to want to understand the behavior and change it. I get the sense from what we've been told, and an understanding of child development, that would have been a tall order in this case.

So while I agree that therapy would have been helpful if she was willing, I don't think we can assume it was something that wasn't considered or done. Therapy isn't magic. It only works when people are committed to it.

MOO.

 

[SimplyCass]

I don't understand the part about how the police 'found' her working at McDonald's and therefore the parents couldn't file a missing report. how is that possible? Is this minor emancipation? Certainly it didn't sound like the parents were OK with that, but apparently they had no means of bringing her home that time?

 

[LauraAnne]

I don't understand the part about how the police 'found' her working at McDonald's and therefore the parents couldn't file a missing report. how is that possible? Is this minor emancipation? Certainly it didn't sound like the parents were OK with that, but apparently they had no means of bringing her home that time?

Maybe it's a technicality? She wasn't missing, but maybe they could have filed an interference with custody case in Family Court?

 

[Izzylizzy]

Sophia has now been missing for 3 weeks.
There's no good scenario that I can run through my head that there's been no news about her.

 

[Cartie]

Wasn't Sophia 15 when she left to live with a friend, I'm sure I read early on that they waited until she was 16. Apologies if I've got confused and that is incorrect.

 

[truthfinder2019]

• Amber alert is still on
• LE is only receiving very few tips by now
• Sophia has not had any contact with anyone
• LE invites Gary Day to turn himself in

Amber Alert still active for 16-year-old Sophia Franklin

Police Chief John Kreuzinger tells Action 2 News there are now “very few” tips coming in

www.wbay.com

I just wish the press did not stop talking about this, they have been slowing down while interest and info should absolutely be kept alive.

Someone is for sure helping him , she needs prenatal care and MD visits !!

I keep wondering if anyone around him who is a health practitioner or nurse is helping . I suppose LE checked it already.
No news for 3 weeks is very worrying, how is that possible. He must be running out of means, food, gas, yet no sightings ?!
I am also starting to fear the worse.

 

[Sjöberg]

Sophia has not had any contact with anyone

This does not sound good.
When do we have the last visual confirmation of her being alive?