AMBER Alert suspect facing charges, teen still missing
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A 40-year-old man suspected to be traveling with a missing pregnant teen from Wisconsin is facing charges with her kidnapping after an AMBER Alert was issued on Tuesday for the missing pair.
Online reports state that 40-year-old Gary Day allegedly traveled to Wisconsin to abduct 16-year-old Sophia Franklin on Monday. Day is facing charges of two counts in Wisconsin of child enticement and two counts of abduction of a child on Wednesday.
The charges are related to the AMBER Alert for Franklin issued on Tuesday.
Arkansas authorities say suspect connected to Wisconsin AMBER Alert believed to be traveling to Lonoke Co.
The charges announced on Wednesday detail events along a six-month timeline, alleging Franklin ran away from home to meet up with Day after communicating with him online. Authorities said in a recorded interview that Franklin spoke to an Arkansas child advocacy center, and the pair waited until after she was brought to Arkansas to have sex because it was illegal in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Authorities said that most of the information used to prepare to charge Day came from details from that interview. During the interview, Franklin told the center that she was pregnant with Day's child and that Day was aware of her age.
Police looking for car with Arkansas license plate in connection to Wisconsin AMBER ALERT issued for pregnant teenager
Franklin's father told Wisconsin authorities that he and his wife became aware of his daughter talking to someone on Google Chat that they believed to be Day and that he threatened suicide.
Authorities said the online conversation was after a no-contact order against Day was issued on Franklin's behalf. After Franklin went missing on Monday, her father told authorities that he caught a man on his video security system coming to his home and disappearing behind the house.
The Lonoke County Sheriff's Office posted to social media on Tuesday the belief that Day and Franklin were traveling to Arkansas, potentially to the Austin area of Lonoke County. They were seen in a black 2014 Buick LaCrosse sedan with Arkansas plate number BBR 20L.
Authorities said the car's license plates may have been switched to avoid detection and it may have a Pennsylvania license plate.
Police said Franklin is a white 5 foot 9 inch woman, weighing about 186 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Day is a white 5 foot 7 inch tall white man, weighing about 165 pounds, with blonde/balding hair and green eyes.
Witness retells how Amber Alert incident started for Little Rock infant girl
The sheriff's office said all tips can remain confidential by emailing tips@lonokeso.com or for immediate action, call 911 or 501-676-3000.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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