The Abduction of Sophia Franklin

 

During February 2025, an AMBER Alert was issued in the states of Wisconsin, Arkansas and Missouri, for Sophia Franklin - a 16-year-old missing from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The teen girl was last seen at her family's home on the evening of February 2nd, 2025. The following morning, Sophia was gone. Her family contacted police shortly after realizing she wasn't at the residence.

It was immediately feared that Sophia left her house to meet up with Gary Day - a 40-year-old man with a history of abusing children. Sophia and Day reportedly began talking online in April 2024. On July 29th, 2024, Sophia told her parents she was going to stay with a friend in the Beaver Dam area. In reality, she was picked up by Day and driven to his residence in Austin, Arkansas. 

Gary Day. (ABC News)

Day was already on probation at this point due to a child endangerment charge from 2020. A probation officer made a routine stop by Day's home during December 2024 and noticed a young girl running out of the back of the residence. It was eventually learned that the young girl was Sophia; a 16-year-old from Wisconsin. Sophia eventually told officers that she had been there since August and planned to marry Day.

Sophia's parents were reportedly shocked to learn of their daughter's relationship with Day, as they thought she had been staying with a friend in the local area. Sophia was subsequently returned to her family's home in Wisconsin. An order of protection was put in place, forbidding Day and Sophia to have contact. 

At some point in the midst of all this, Sophia learned she was pregnant with Day's child. The child was conceived in Arkansas - where the age of consent is 16 - so Day was not charged with statutory rape. It's believed that Sophia was approximately 3 months along at the time the February 2025 AMBER alerts were issued. 

Despite the order of protection, Day and Sophia continued to have contact via text and email after her return to Wisconsin. Then, in early February 2025, the two met up in person once again. Day drove to Wisconsin and was captured by home security cameras walking by the Franklin's house on the morning of February 3rd.

Source: Beaver Dam PD

Shortly thereafter, Sophia was discovered to be missing from the home. An AMBER alert was immediately issued in the state of Wisconsin, asking the public to be on the lookout for a black 2014 Buick LaCrosse. The car had recently been seen using two different plates: Pennsylvania KGW5186 and Arkansas BBR20L.

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February 4th, 2025: Gary Day is charged.

On February 4th, 2025, the Dodge County District Attorney filed two felony charges against Gary Day: 2 counts of child enticement and one count of child abduction. The first child enticement charge count is dated as July 29th, 2024 - the first time Day picked Sophia up and brought her to Arkansas. The second enticement charge count is dated February 3rd, 2025.

February 6th-7th, 2025: The AMBER Alert is extended across states.

On February 6th, 2025, the AMBER alert for Sophia was issued in Arkansas as well - noting that Gary Day is from there, and he had traveled there with Sophia in the past.

The following day, the AMBER alert was extended to Missouri, as it was believed that the two had traveled through there. There was a potential sighting of Day's car in Springfield, but it remains unconfirmed.

February 9th, 2025: Gary Day's phone pings one final time.

On February 10th, authorities confirmed that Gary Day's phone was active in Arkansas the previous day - February 9th, 2025. However, the phone has since been shut off and has not pinged again. This gave investigators a potential lead on Sophia and Day being in Arkansas, but the possibility that they are traveling/hiding through other states remains as well.

February 12th, 2025 - April 3rd, 2025: the whereabouts of Sophia and Day are unknown.

On February 12th, 2025, a missing persons poster/flyer for Sophia was distributed across the United States. At this point, Sophia's abduction made national news. 

Click or tap to enlarge.

There were obvious concerns about Sophia being with Day - not only is he an adult and she is a minor, but he also has a history of abusing children. In 2020, he was arrested after his 4-month-old child was found to have a broken femur bone. Though Day denied the charges, it is believed that he caused said injury. 

April 3rd, 2025: Sophia is found. 

On April 3rd, 2025, it was reported that Sophia and Gary Day were both found alive in Nebraska. Reports state that a couple grew suspicious after speaking with Sophia at a truck stop and called police. Sophia and Day were eventually located, and Day was taken into custody.

Day is being charged with two counts of abduction of a child and two counts of child enticement causing mental/bodily harm. His case is pending.

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Sources:
ABC WISN 2, (2)
NCMEC

WTMJ