BEAVER DAM, Wis. (TCN) — A 40-year-old man was taken into custody after he and his underage pregnant girlfriend, who was the subject of a recent Amber Alert, were located in Nebraska following a two-month search.
The Beaver Dam Police Department announced this week that on Wednesday, April 2, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office officials near Omaha, Nebraska, received a call about a possible sighting of Sophia Franklin and Gary Day. Law enforcement responded and positively identified both Franklin and Day. Deputies arrested Day and took Franklin to a secure facility, where she will be reunited with her family.
Sarpy County Jail records show Day is in custody on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a child, false reporting, and being a fugitive from justice.
Franklin was reported missing to the Beaver Dam Police Department on Feb. 3. She was last seen at her home on the night of Feb. 2, and police believe she left in Day’s car at 7:48 a.m. on Feb. 3. Beaver Dam Police said Day and Franklin had a no-contact order and that Franklin was three months pregnant. Authorities issued an Amber Alert following her disappearance.
KETV-TV reports that a truck driver and his wife noticed the two of them at a truck stop and became concerned.
Sarpy County Sheriff Greg London said, “It doesn’t look right when the 40-year-old guy is with the 17-year-old girl.”
Franklin was located on her 17th birthday.
Franklin and Day reportedly met on social media and struck up a relationship. In December, she reportedly traveled to Day’s home in Arkansas for several days. WKOW-TV reports Franklin allegedly told her parents she was at her friend’s house in Beaver Dam, but instead she went to visit Day. Their relationship reportedly became sexual during that trip because they “knew it was illegal in Wisconsin and Illinois.”
Day has multiple warrants out for his arrest, including in Vermont f or exploitation. He was convicted in Indiana for endangering a minor.
Franklin’s mom told KETV, “Whoever it was that had the forethought to think that looks like that girl and call the police. I can’t even begin to say how grateful I am.”
- Press Release – Beaver Dam Police Department
- Arkansas man found with pregnant Wisconsin teen taken into custody in Sarpy County – KETV
- Sarpy County Jail inmate information
- Amber Alert issued for missing pregnant 16-year-old who is believed to be with 40-year-old boyfriend, 2/6/2025 – TCN
- Amber Alert / Missing Juvenile, 2/3/2025 – Beaver Dam Police Department
- Court documents reveal new information into missing Beaver Dam 16-year-old girl, 2/5/2025 – WKOW
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