UPDATE: Boyfriend Indicted In Nailah Franklin's Murder
CHICAGO ― Reginald Potts Jr., 30-year-old former lover of slain pharmaceutical rep Nailah Franklin, is indicted on multiple counts of murder and kidnapping in the 28-year-old woman's death.
Potts is indicted on 16 counts of first-degree murder, four counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count each of vehicular hijacking and robbery, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin.
Franklin, 28, of University Village, was reported missing by her family on Sept. 19 after not showing for a meeting with her boss at Eli Lilly and Co. Her decomposed body was found in a wooded area on Sept. 27.
Potts, 31, could face the death penalty if convicted of murdering Franklin, 28. He was ordered held without bond by Judge Don Panarese on Dec. 10.
Franklin had an "on-and-off dating relationship for several months" with Potts, according to First Assistant State's Attorney Robert Milan. In early September, Franklin sent an e-mail to several friends discussing Potts' prior criminal history. When Potts found out about the e-mail, he began making threatening calls to Franklin, Milan said in court. In one message, "he told her he could have her erased," Milan said.
On Sept. 10, Franklin filed a police report saying she had been threatened.
A few days after Franklin's disappearance, Potts told police he had not seen her since August. But "several residents" at Franklin's Pilsen-area condominium reported seeing Potts "lurking in the victim's hallway and in the parking garage on the evenings of Sept. 16 and 17," according to Milan.
Potts claimed to have been at a Target store with two friends the evening of Sept. 18. But surveillance tape shows the friends there without Potts, Milan said.
Potts has eight previous felony convictions. Asst. Public Defender Kathy Lisco said Potts is involved "in various small business enterprises." He has also been charged in connection with the aggravated battery of a police officer in Maywood.
He told Panarese during his bond hearing that he did not want a public defender to represent him, though Lisco represented him at the bond hearing.
Potts is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, Conklin said.
Copyright 2007 STNG Wire, The Chicago Sun-Times. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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