A Wisconsin police department announced on Thursday morning that a 16-year-old girl who had been missing for two months was found in Nebraska.
Sophia Franklin disappeared from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, on February 2 and was believed to be traveling with a 40-year-old man named Gary Day, prompting an Amber Alert to locate her.
According to the Beaver Dam Police Department, a tip from Sarpy County, Nebraska, led to Franklin’s discovery. Law enforcement made contact with a juvenile who was with an adult male matching the description of Gary Day. Their identities were confirmed, and Day was taken into custody. Franklin was taken to a secure facility to await reunification with her family.
When she went missing, Franklin was three months pregnant with Day’s child, according to local reports.
Before the Amber Alert was issued, Franklin reportedly spent four months in Arkansas with Day, while her parents believed she was staying with a friend. Her mother, Leah Franklin, told local news that the family had been in communication with her daughter during her time in Arkansas. Day was on probation at the time.
Leah Franklin said she believes her daughter was brainwashed and groomed by Day.
Day has been charged with child enticement and abduction.
Peter D’Abrosca, a reporter for Fox News Digital, contributed to this story. He joined the outlet in 2025 after four years as a politics reporter at The Tennessee Star.
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