Breaking News: 9/28/07 Body confirmed to be Nailah Franklin
CHICAGO (AP) – Authorities today confirmed that a body found in the Chicago suburb of Calumet City this week is that of a 28-year-old woman reported missing nine days ago.
Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond says dental records and an autopsy were used to identify the body of Nailah (nah-EE’-lah) Franklin.
Franklin was reported missing September 19th after she didn’t show up for a work meeting.
Bond says the cause of death for the Chicago woman is inconclusive, and an investigation continues.
CALUMET CITY, Ill. (AP) – Family members say the body found in suburban Chicago early today is that of a missing Chicago woman.
The uncle of Nailah (nah-EE’-lah) Franklin, Jon Merrill, and family friend, Andrew Holmes, tell WFLD-TV today that authorities have confirmed that the 28-year-old is dead.
Franklin’s family members gathered this morning at the scene in south suburban Calumet City where they prayed and said they hoped that the body wasn’t Franklin’s.
Calumet City police chief Russell Larson earlier confirmed that the unclothed body was found at 4:46 a.m. near a forest preserve.
The area isn’t far from where Franklin’s car was found abandoned in Hammond, Indiana.
Franklin was reported missing September 19th after she didn’t show up for a meeting at work.
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UPDATE 1: Missing woman’s family releases statement
CALUMET CITY, Ill. (AP) – The sister of a missing Chicago woman says a body found in Calumet City has NOT been confirmed to be that of her relative.
Nailah (nah-EE’-lah) Franklin was reported missing September 19th after she didn’t show up for a meeting at work.
Her uncle and a family friend earlier told WFLD-TV that they’d been informed that the 28-year-old is dead.
But Franklin’s sister, Lehia Franklin Acox, says in a statement she’s working directly with Chicago police detectives. And Acox says the body found near a forest preserve has not been confirmed to be Franklin.
The area isn’t far from where Franklin’s car was found abandoned in Hammond, Indiana.
UPDATE 2: Missing Woman’s Family Holds Hope For Safe Return
Nailah Franklin’s family has endured eight days of endless worry since she was reported missing, but with Thursday morning’s discovery of a woman’s body in a Calumet City forest preserve near where Franklin’s car was found, Thursday may seem like the longest day yet.
“It’s been a sad, stressful week for all of us,” said Franklin’s uncle Jon Merrill. “We don’t want the worst case scenario to become a reality.”
For Franklin’s family, discovery of a decomposed woman’s body in the Calumet City forest preserves only prolongs the agonizing waiting game. They are hoping against hope now that the search for the 28-year-old pharmaceutical sales representative isn’t over.
“Nailah is a beautiful, soft-spoken young lady,” Merrill said. “We don’t want a single hair on her head to be harmed. We want to have her back safe and sound.”
Since Franklin vanished, her sisters have orchestrated an extraordinary media blitz. A full-page Chicago Tribune ad appeared Thursday, paid for by her employer, Eli Lilly, and earlier, a blizzard of posters, media interviews, a Web site and a cash rewards.
“We have to believe,” said Franklin’s sister Marina Franklin. “You can’t sit and wait for things to come to you. You can’t sit at home and wait for people to give you information. You have to do something about it.”
Franklin’s immediate family remained in seclusion Thursday with ministers from Trinity United Church of Christ. Other relatives made a visit to her University Village apartment building, now adorned with yellow ribbons that remind everyone of her absence.
“We all love her and we’re just praying for her safe return,” said cousin Lela Toney. “Like everyone else is, we’re just waiting for news.”
It appears that wait will extend into Friday. That is the earliest the body found Thursday could be positively identified.
It is amazing that I Nailah’s absence was not reported on the Today Show or any other major network morning broadcast.
Again, only if you are a skinny white woman, even Asian, unknown to all but important to society is your absence noted to the world.
A beautiful black woman’s was barley picked up by the media and is lost not only to her family, but is also lost to the world!
It is amazing that I Nailah’s absence was not reported on the Today Show or any other major network morning broadcast.Again, only if you are a skinny white woman, even Asian, unknown to all but important to society is your absence noted to the world.A beautiful black woman’s was barley picked up by the media and is lost not only to her family, but is also lost to the world!
As a black woman, I must respectfully disagree this time. The story was picked up by CNN, MSNBC and Fox News nationally. I know because I went out of town. I think that her family did an amazing job of spreading the word. Usually, we do not get this type of coverage, but this time it was covered. We should all focus our energy on supporting the family.
As a black woman, I must respectfully disagree this time. The story was picked up by CNN, MSNBC and Fox News nationally. I know because I went out of town. I think that her family did an amazing job of spreading the word. Usually, we do not get this type of coverage, but this time it was covered. We should all focus our energy on supporting the family.
I also have to disagree. CNN has done a great job with coverage and this case was picked up by many newspapers. I live in Canada, so I really can attest to this.
I also have to disagree. CNN has done a great job with coverage and this case was picked up by many newspapers. I live in Canada, so I really can attest to this.
We’re in Ohio and hear about it as well.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time.
We’re in Ohio and hear about it as well. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time.
My prayers go out to her family. I will keep Nailah in my thoughts and hold her near to my heart. I hope the authorities will focus on finding the person who took this angel out of this world.
My prayers go out to her family. I will keep Nailah in my thoughts and hold her near to my heart. I hope the authorities will focus on finding the person who took this angel out of this world.
I’ve been following this case from Louisiana for well over a week, if now more, and I heard about it on national news shows. I am a white woman and have prayed for her safe return. I am sorry to find out, on national news, that her body may have been found.
I’ve been following this case from Louisiana for well over a week, if now more, and I heard about it on national news shows. I am a white woman and have prayed for her safe return. I am sorry to find out, on national news, that her body may have been found.
I’ve been glued to the Internet sites and even did the unspeakable this morning…I tuned in to CNN and the other news channels before getting out of bed this morning in the hopes of receiving word of her return home. The news is reaching me and I’m in Southern California. My heart has been grieved all day long at the prospect that the body found is Nailia. Oh my Lord please be merciful.
I’ve been glued to the Internet sites and even did the unspeakable this morning…I tuned in to CNN and the other news channels before getting out of bed this morning in the hopes of receiving word of her return home. The news is reaching me and I’m in Southern California. My heart has been grieved all day long at the prospect that the body found is Nailia. Oh my Lord please be merciful.
…I apologize for misspelling Nailah’s name in the previous post. My heart, thoughts and prayers are with Nailah and her loved ones.
…I apologize for misspelling Nailah’s name in the previous post. My heart, thoughts and prayers are with Nailah and her loved ones.
My prayers are with Nailah’s family and for all who knew and loved her. I want to thank you PROFUSELY for this blog. If black women don’t value themselves and each other, no one will. We must insist on justice for Nailah, and I hope that they find the perpetrators of her murder.
My prayers are with Nailah’s family and for all who knew and loved her. I want to thank you PROFUSELY for this blog. If black women don’t value themselves and each other, no one will. We must insist on justice for Nailah, and I hope that they find the perpetrators of her murder.
My prayers go out to Nailah’s family. I don’t generally follow stories of this type but because my daughter is very close to Nailah’s age, this has touched close to my heart and soul. I can’t imagine why anyone would consider harming an intelligent, beautiful, and accomplishing young woman. That is why there is still hope in my heart she will return to her family safely.
I hope the FBI and other authorities continue this investigation and quickly find the perpetrator(s.
My prayers go out to Nailah’s family. I don’t generally follow stories of this type but because my daughter is very close to Nailah’s age, this has touched close to my heart and soul. I can’t imagine why anyone would consider harming an intelligent, beautiful, and accomplishing young woman. That is why there is still hope in my heart she will return to her family safely.I hope the FBI and other authorities continue this investigation and quickly find the perpetrator(s.
Bless the family and friends of Nailah’s.
Bless the family and friends of Nailah’s.
My prayers go out to Nailah Franklin’s family. It’s very heartbreaking and sad to hear of her death. She had so much to live, so much to offer to the world. May Ms. Franklin rest in peace.
Stephanie B.
My prayers go out to Nailah Franklin’s family. It’s very heartbreaking and sad to hear of her death. She had so much to live, so much to offer to the world. May Ms. Franklin rest in peace.Stephanie B.