Sep 25, 2007 9:46 pm US/Central
Missing Woman's Family Offers $10,000 Reward
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
In the week since she was first reported missing, friends and relatives of Nailah Franklin have used posters and public pleas to enlist help in finding the 28-year-old pharmaceutical sales rep. Now, the FBI is involved and the family is turning to cash: a $10,000 reward, as an incentive, as CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports.
"We hope this will help the police investigate Nailah's disappearance and get her home to us," said Franklin's sister, Lehia Franklin Acox.
The exhaustive search for a missing Chicago women now enters its second week. Tuesday evening, CBS 2 learned more about a former friend of Franklin's, who says he is cooperating with police and has nothing to hide.
Since Franklin disappeared last Tuesday investigators have reviewed the surveillance tape taken from the lobby of her apartment complex; they've examined articles removed from her apartment; and they've questioned many of her acquaintances, including a man Franklin filed a police report against two weeks ago. She accused the man of threatening her.
Tuesday, CBS 2 talked to a very close friend of that man and she says he wants the public to know he was not involved in the disappearance of Franklin. Through the friend, the man sent a message to CBS 2 saying, "Along with everyone else, I am deeply concerned about Nailah's whereabouts and ultimately her safe return home. My prayers are with her and her family."
According to the friend, the man is cooperating with police. She says he was called in for questioning Friday where he spent three hours talking to detectives. He's given them full access to his e-mail and phone records and provided witnesses who can account for his whereabouts last week.
Police confirm they've interviewed the man and he does have a criminal record. In 2001 he was charged with fleeing to avoid federal prosecution and conspiracy to steal a car. He also has an order of protection against him filed by a woman in DuPage County.
Despite his background, today the man has a successful business. Police say the man is one of a number of people they're talking to and the investigation continues.
Tuesday evening, Franklin's family said they never met that man, which was unusual.
"All the relationships with boyfriends that Nailah had, we've always known that person; been introduced to that person," Acox said. "This was not someone that we knew."
Police haven't had a breakthrough yet. Still Franklin's family maintains a sense of not just of hope or optimism, but dogged determination to do everything they can to bring her back.
"We have to keep active, we have to believe," said Franklin's sister, Marina.
And as their next activity, the family is setting up a Web site: bringnailahfranklinhome.com. It will be a clearinghouse for information and activities aimed at achieving that goal.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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