Omaha, Nebraska U.S. — The two-month hunt for 17-year-old Sophia Franklin has come to a dramatic end just as she was found alive with the 40-year-old man suspected of getting her pregnant.
Authorities located the Wisconsin teen and Gary Day, 40, just before midnight on Wednesday Sophia’s 17th birthday in Omaha, Nebraska, over 500 miles from her home in Beaver Dam. Law enforcement moved in swiftly after receiving a tip, ending an urgent, multi-state search that had spanned from Wisconsin to Arkansas and Missouri.
Gary Day, who had already been charged with two counts of child abduction and two counts of child enticement back in February, was taken into custody at the scene. The Amber Alert issued in three states was officially canceled Thursday morning.
According to investigators, Day was “known to be the father” of Sophia’s unborn child, a fact that came to light when she first went missing on February 3. At the time, surveillance footage from a doorbell camera appeared to capture Day near Franklin’s home early in the morning.
Sophia, now five months pregnant, was immediately taken to a nearby hospital after being found. Officials confirmed that both she and her unborn baby are in good health.
The story took a disturbing twist when police revealed Sophia had been secretly living with Day for six months earlier this year. While her family believed she was staying with a friend nearby, she was actually at Day’s home in Cabot, Arkansas. Authorities first discovered this during a routine probation check on Day, who was under supervision for felony domestic battery charges.
During that December visit, a teen girl was seen running from the back of the house—later confirmed to be Sophia Franklin. She was brought home to Wisconsin but vanished again just weeks later.
Investigators believe the pair fled in a black 2014 Buick LaCrosse, sparking a regional Amber Alert. The case has drawn intense public attention, especially after law enforcement confirmed Day’s prior criminal history and his ongoing relationship with the underage teen.
Beaver Dam Police Chief John Kreuziger expressed deep gratitude to the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office and multiple other agencies involved in locating Sophia. He also credited the public’s vigilance and willingness to share crucial leads that helped bring her home safely.
