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

They have not thought that far ahead. She's putting him above the child she's carrying, he has made himself the victim in this. She's trying to prove her worth at the cost of her self and child. In her eyes, he's the victim. Sad.
Hopefully I linked this article correctly. It mentions that during their chats, Day threatened suicide. You’re spot on that he’s playing the “victim” and she’s falling for it. Thinking more about her running away from home to be with this creep makes me sick. He probably encountered her that things would be much better with him and not having the rules her parents had. MOO

 
Noting:

Franklin told police in Arkansas that she reached out to him, and the two discussed that Day was getting a divorce and going through a custody battle.

Franklin said her relationship became physical with Day when the two arrived in Arkansas because "they knew it was illegal in Wisconsin and Illinois."
 
So let me make sure I am understanding... Her parents believed she was in Wisconsin until around December 10, when they ask the police to get involved. And then "coincidentally" the very next day on December 11, probation/police officers in Arkansas do a check on Day and just happen to stumble upon the girl? And yet her parents insist that they did not know she was in Arkansas? Seems to me like someone might have given Wisconsin police some info that they relayed to Arkansas police. Possibly a friend or acquaintance of the girl. MOO

I am still utterly baffled that she was gone for several months and the parents just went with the understanding that she was still local even though they had not laid eyes on her. I am wondering why she left home in the first place. Was she already in communication with this predator at that time, or did that happen after?
 
FEB 6, 2025
According to the criminal complaint, Franklin snuck away to live with Day for several months last year in Arkansas, when she told her parents she was staying with a friend for the summer.

Lonoke County (Arkansas) Sheriff John Staley stated that when they found this out, Day was charged with interference with visitation, which is a felony and contributing to the delinquency of a minor because he had transported her across state lines. He was ordered to have no contact with Franklin, but police believe Day has taught Franklin ways to get around this order and they have been communicating through various ways including cell phones.
 
He's a manipulator, pure and simple. And unfortunately he has a type, young minor girls. They are more easily manipulated as they haven't had enough worldly experiences to allow them to see relationship red flags. I am sure she feels they are in love. I am sure he has told her how beautiful and mature she is and that nobody in the world could possibly love and adore her as he does. When she returned home, she likely didn't know she was pregnant.

When she discovered she was, she probably told him, and he was probably thrilled. Nothing further ties a minor girl who thinks she is in love with him like a child does. Now he begins feeding her the I can't wait to be a family with you BS.

I don't think he will hurt her or the baby. But I think they will be more difficult to catch this time around. Last time was a lesson, and I think they've learned it. They will stay better hidden. She probably thinks he is risking all (breaking probation) and going on the lamb with her illustrates his undying love, look how far I will go for you and our baby.

Barf. Eventually the new and shiny wears off and she discovers he has her and the baby completely isolated from everyone, and then the abuse will begin.

I won't go into her parents not knowing she was states away for months and thinking she was spending the summer with a local friend. I don't know enough of the backstory to judge that. I will say it gives me pause and causes me to wonder what home looked like.
 
I am still utterly baffled that she was gone for several months and the parents just went with the understanding that she was still local even though they had not laid eyes on her. I am wondering why she left home in the first place. Was she already in communication with this predator at that time, or did that happen after?
rsbm

her family not noticing her not being local anymore for months makes me wonder if maybe her family not paying much attention to her made her more susceptible to this creep that did give her attention :( pure speculation of course, we don’t know their family dynamics.
 
rsbm

her family not noticing her not being local anymore for months makes me wonder if maybe her family not paying much attention to her made her more susceptible to this creep that did give her attention :( pure speculation of course, we don’t know their family dynamics.
Having raised 6 girls myself, 2 of them who quite clearly knew far more than me at 16 years old (I know this because they proudly told me how smart they were) and also who both moved out at that age to live with "a friend" mostly because they hated the rules at home (take out the trash, clean your room, you know, the real awful stuff) but also because they wanted to do stuff they knew full well I'd never approve of... this kind of behavior isn't surprising at all.

It's a complicated age. You can't just lock them in the house, and when they do leave, there's almost nothing you can do about it, but HOPE they stay in touch and are safe and that no one takes advantage of them in any way. I definitely understand what her parents are dealing with right now and why they have no interest in speaking to the media.

jmo
 
So let me make sure I am understanding... Her parents believed she was in Wisconsin until around December 10, when they ask the police to get involved. And then "coincidentally" the very next day on December 11, probation/police officers in Arkansas do a check on Day and just happen to stumble upon the girl? And yet her parents insist that they did not know she was in Arkansas? Seems to me like someone might have given Wisconsin police some info that they relayed to Arkansas police. Possibly a friend or acquaintance of the girl. MOO

I am still utterly baffled that she was gone for several months and the parents just went with the understanding that she was still local even though they had not laid eyes on her. I am wondering why she left home in the first place. Was she already in communication with this predator at that time, or did that happen after?
Kind of baffling isn't it? I'm not understanding the parents, maybe the sisters had more contact with her? IMO
 
I hope they put out BOLOs to all community clinics/hospitals in areas they think she may be in. Unfortunately, I’m guessing she isn’t getting proper prenatal care, but if she lands at a clinic I hope the healthcare providers are suspicious. I know in my state we have mandatory trafficking edu, etc…also hoping drugs/alcohol are not being given to her, especially if pregnant. On a different note I wonder if she met his ex or his people when she was in AK before. So many questions.
Oops AR typo! Not AK
 
He's a manipulator, pure and simple. And unfortunately he has a type, young minor girls. They are more easily manipulated as they haven't had enough worldly experiences to allow them to see relationship red flags. I am sure she feels they are in love. I am sure he has told her how beautiful and mature she is and that nobody in the world could possibly love and adore her as he does. When she returned home, she likely didn't know she was pregnant.

When she discovered she was, she probably told him, and he was probably thrilled. Nothing further ties a minor girl who thinks she is in love with him like a child does. Now he begins feeding her the I can't wait to be a family with you BS.

I don't think he will hurt her or the baby. But I think they will be more difficult to catch this time around. Last time was a lesson, and I think they've learned it. They will stay better hidden. She probably thinks he is risking all (breaking probation) and going on the lamb with her illustrates his undying love, look how far I will go for you and our baby.

Barf. Eventually the new and shiny wears off and she discovers he has her and the baby completely isolated from everyone, and then the abuse will begin.

I won't go into her parents not knowing she was states away for months and thinking she was spending the summer with a local friend. I don't know enough of the backstory to judge that. I will say it gives me pause and causes me to wonder what home looked like.
Agree. Sadly if they make it as far, he’d likely get fed up with this baby crying too. He’s got so many charges on him now though, that it seems more than just bringing her to Arkansas. Violating probation is just the tip of this iceberg.
 
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Noting:

Franklin told police in Arkansas that she reached out to him, and the two discussed that Day was getting a divorce and going through a custody battle.

Franklin said her relationship became physical with Day when the two arrived in Arkansas because "they knew it was illegal in Wisconsin and Illinois."

Day sounds like a very clever manipulator and predator, able to recruit a naive but apparently rebellious 16 year old from 800 miles away. Makes himself the victim by stories of his divorce and custody battle, probably leaving out the child abuse allegations.

There have to have been many more teenage women he tried these stories on. He's no catch for a 16 year old, and it's questionable how he has been able to eke out a living, with the young wife and child to support and also romancing vunerable teens. Or maybe he has put the wife out working, too.

Despite the protection of her parents and sibling at her own home, this guy was able to stalk her and get her away.
 
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How do parents teach their budding teen daughters to avoid manipulative middle aged men? Parents probably think more about aggressive hormone burning young men as the "enemy" of their teenage daughters. But these older men....are so much more dangerous in my mind.

moo.
 
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<modsnip - quoted post was removed>

How do parents teach their budding teen daughters to avoid manipulative middle aged men? Parents probably think more about aggressive hormone burning young men as the "enemy" of their teenage daughters. But these older men....are so much more dangerous in my mind.

moo.

I'm wondering if the parents thought she was staying with a sibling or other close relative, and just don't want to disclose that kind of information. Maybe a complicated family dynamic with a her having a conspiratorial relative.
 
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Day sounds like a very clever manipulator and predator, able to recruit a naive but apparently rebellious 16 year old from 800 miles away. Makes himself the victim by stories of his divorce and custody battle, probably leaving out the child abuse allegations.

There have to have been many more teenage women he tried these stories on. He's no catch for a 16 year old, and it's questionable how he has been able to eke out a living, with the young wife and child to support and also romancing vunerable teens. Or maybe he has put the wife out working, too.

Despite the protection of her parents and sibling at her own home, this guy was able to stalk her and get her away.
Where are they? I’m wondering if they’re staying with someone Day knows? He has to run out of money eventually and with the Amber Alert, it’s just a matter of time before they find them.
 

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