Uncle: Missing drug rep's body found

CALUMET CITY, Illinois (AP) -- A drug sales representative who disappeared last week was found dead near a forest preserve, not far from where her car was abandoned, her uncle said Thursday.

Calumet City Police Chief Russell Larson confirmed only that an unidentified woman's body had been found in the area Thursday morning.

But Nailah Franklin's uncle Jon Merrill and family friend Andrew Holms said authorities had told the family the body is that of Merrill's 28-year-old niece.

Franklin, a pharmaceutical sales representative for Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly, was reported missing September 19 after she missed a meeting at work. Her car was discovered in Hammond, Indiana, on Friday night near an abandoned building.

Franklin had filed a police report shortly before her disappearance about getting threatening phone calls from a man she had dated briefly.

Chicago police said Monday they had interviewed someone Franklin once dated but have not named a suspect in her disappearance.

Since her disappearance, family members and volunteers have papered the area with fliers and taken out a newspaper ad seeking the public's help.

They have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. E-mail to a friend

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

All About Missing Persons