UPDATE: Missing Wisconsin Teen Sophia Franklin Found Safe in Nebraska
By James Seidel | Crime and Cask News Network
OMAHA, Neb. — Sophia Franklin, the 17-year-old girl abducted from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, has been found safe after being missing for more than two months. The AMBER Alert issued for her in February has been canceled.
Franklin, who turned 17 on Wednesday, was located around 11:40 p.m. on April 2, near Omaha, Nebraska, according to a statement from the Beaver Dam Police Department. She had been missing since February 2, 2025, when she was allegedly taken by Gary Day, a 40-year-old man from Cabot, Arkansas, who is now in custody.
Authorities say Day is the father of Sophia’s unborn child. He faces two counts of child abduction and two counts of child enticement. Day has a criminal history involving children and was on probation for endangering a minor, according to court records in Arkansas.
The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office in Nebraska received a tip from a concerned citizen who spotted a man and a pregnant teenage girl matching the pair’s description at a local truck stop. The tipster, a female truck driver, spoke briefly with them and grew suspicious. After conducting a quick online search in her truck, she realized Sophia was listed as missing and immediately alerted authorities.
Deputies responded quickly and located both Sophia and Day. Day was arrested without incident and remains in Sarpy County custody.
Sophia was taken to a secure facility and will soon be reunited with her family, who are traveling to Nebraska. Beaver Dam Police Chief John Kreuziger confirmed that Sophia was transported to a hospital and is in good health.
“We are beyond grateful to everyone who helped bring Sophia home,” said Chief Kreuziger. “We thank the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, the truck driver who made the call, and all the agencies and individuals who kept watch, shared leads, and refused to give up.”
Sophia and Day reportedly met online in April 2024. Authorities say Day traveled to Wisconsin three months later and brought her back to Arkansas. The two lived together until December, when officers discovered Sophia during a probation check at Day’s residence. At the time, he was ordered to have no contact with her—but that order was violated in February when he returned and allegedly abducted her again, as seen on home surveillance video.
Sophia’s mother, Leah Franklin, said she feared she would never see her daughter again. “We’re just thankful she’s alive and safe. That’s all that matters right now,” she said.
The investigation into the case is ongoing. Further charges may be filed as more details emerge.
James Seidel – Publisher, Journalist, Author. Investigator, Podcaster, Radio Talk Show Host, and Music Producer.
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