Natily Nacole Franklin, a 41-year-old woman from Decatur, Michigan, was last seen on November 2, 2018, at a friend's house in Osceola, Indiana. She was reported missing shortly after being released on bond following an arrest in Cass County, Michigan, for drug-related charges. When she vanished, all of her personal belongings, including her purse, clothing, money, and cellphone, were left behind. Known to often have her small red-brown Chihuahua with her, the dog was also unaccounted for.
Michigan State Police from the Paw Paw post initiated an investigation into her disappearance. Franklin was described as a white female, approximately five feet eight inches tall and weighing around 140 pounds, with highlighted curly brown hair. A distinctive feature was a full sleeve tattoo on her right arm.
The search for Natily Franklin took a somber turn on March 21, 2019, when human remains were discovered in a wooded area on the property of the Chapel Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery in Osceola. A person searching for deer antler sheds made the grim discovery. The remains were described as skeletal and in an advanced state of decomposition. While investigators had strong indications that the remains might be those of Franklin, a positive identification required further forensic analysis. The remains were sent to Indianapolis for an anthropological examination, where DNA and dental records could be compared. The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit joined the Michigan State Police in the ongoing investigation.
On July 31, 2019, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that the Indiana State Police laboratory had positively identified the remains as those of Natily Nacole Franklin. Following the identification, arrangements were made by the St. Joseph County Coroner's Office to return her remains to her family. The investigation into her death remains active and ongoing by the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit, with assistance from the Michigan State Police. This case began as a missing person report after Natily Franklin disappeared under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind all her possessions. The discovery of her remains several months later in a nearby cemetery confirmed the tragic outcome of her disappearance. The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.Last Seen: Nov 2, 2018
