Missing woman's car found in Hammond

September 22, 2007 (WLS) -- Chicago police say the car of Nailah Franklin has been found in Hammond, Ind. Police say that because of where the car was found, they are searching a lagoon area on the River Oaks golf course as part of the investigation.

They said Saturday morning that this may be just one of several areas being searched.

Franklin, missing since Tuesday, lives in the University Village neighborhood, in the 1500 block of S. Sangamon. She had reported threats to police before she disappeared.

The family has set up a command center at a gymnasium at 700 W. Maxwell, as a headquarters for flyer distribution. Police held a press conference Friday afternoon to update the media on new information.

It's been three days since any of her friends or family has heard from the pharmaceutical sales representative, and they are worried.

Family and friends plan to hold a candlelight vigil Saturday evening.

"I do believe she's in distress. She's not the kind of person who would just leave without a trace," said Lehia Franklin Acox, sister of the missing woman.

A Chicago police forensic team combed through Nailah Franklin's condo Friday night. Police say when a person is missing it is standard procedure. Investigators carried out paper bags of evidence.

"We are also checking the cameras," said Police Sgt. Virginia Zic-Schlomas. "There are surveillance cameras in the apartment complex where she lived and the pods outside that area."

"It defies explanation. That sounds dramatic, but she's not the type of person who just leaves," said Dana McClellan, friend.

Her family said Franklin loved her job at Eli Lilly. So when she failed to show up for an important meeting with her boss at 10 a.m. Wednesday, they got worried.

At her home, they discovered some of her computer equipment as well as her company car were missing, so they filed a missing person report with police. Police confirmed Friday that two of Franklin's laptops, the car and some of her credit cards are missing.

Franklin's corporate car, a black, four-door 2005 Chevy Impala with Illinois license plate number 1957855 was leased.

Police say Franklin had filed a report just last week about soemone she had dated who was allegedly harassing and threatening her with calls and text messages. police said. The harassment was allegedly coming from someone Franklin had a past relationship with, but they would not elaborate. After filing the report, police had advised Franklin to get an order of protection, something she did not have time to have completed before her disappearance.

"She is very independent," said Franklin Acox. "For her to do that, that's significant... I'm just willing myself to be positive and willing myself to just believe that she is somewhere and she's alive and OK, and that we just need to find her," Franklin Acox said.

Police say Franklin is an avid text messager, and they are pouring through her texts, calls and other records. They say Franklin had recently moved to the neighborhood.

"All we hope is she is safe," said brother-in-law Erwin Acox. "We really don't have any specific information. We are hoping that the fact (that) we are getting out the word will trigger somebody's memory that they saw her this week, and maybe they can give us some information or the police some information."

I won't stop until we run out of papers," said sister Ashlee Allen, handing out flyers in Hyde Park. "I know she would do the same thing for me."

"You can't sit at home and cry; that's not going to do anything," said Briana Mondie. "You need to go out and find her."

"Anyone who believes that God will just bring her home, I don't care about anything else. I just want my sister to come home," Allen said.

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