JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Five years after Jenna Franks, a transgender woman, was found dead in a ditch, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been identified, according to Jacksonville police.
Franks, 34, was discovered by a city worker clearing debris in a ditch off Ellis Boulevard and White Street. An autopsy determined she died from stab wounds to the neck and legs.
Franks’ sister, Jessica Wilson, said she had not spoken to Franks for several days before her body was found. Wilson said she believed Franks knew she was in danger.
“She said Jesse, if anything ever happens to me, just know that it wasn’t an accident, I didn’t commit suicide, and I didn’t overdose,” Wilson said.
Wilson also said she believes Franks’ identity as a transgender woman has affected how the case has been handled.
“If she had no past, no background, and she wasn’t in transition and stuff like that, they would be on top of it,” Wilson said about the investigation. “Every time you hear about my sister’s case is every year when y’all do a story.”
Jacksonville Police Department took the lead in the investigation with assistance from the FBI. Police Chief Jarad Phelps, who was not with the department when the murder occurred, said leads have become less frequent over time.
“Last year was the last time that we got a good lead that we went all the way through to exhaust all those leads, so hopefully someone can come forward today to give us a little more information,” Phelps said.
Phelps also addressed why the death was not immediately announced as a homicide when the body was found.
“It’s always been a homicide investigation. It took a few days for us to come out and say it was a homicide because of the level of decomposition and the medical examiner having to go all the way up to Greenville,” Phelps said.
Jacksonville police are offering a $15,000 reward for information in the case. The FBI is offering an additional $10,000.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Police Department or Crime Stoppers.
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