UPDATE: Victim identified in Bridgeville homicide, suspect arrested
2/22 UPDATE: Delaware State Police have recovered the victim’s silver 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS.
We’re told the car was found unoccupied in Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Police Department.
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2/21 UPDATE: Police have identified the victim in this homicide and say they have arrested her husband for murder.
The victim has been identified as 57-year-old Cynthia Moss-Franks.
Through investigative measures, detectives identified her husband, 53-year-old Robert Franks, as the suspect. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Franks for first degree murder, and with the assistance of Pennsylvania State Police and the Philadelphia Police Department, took Franks into custody on Monday in Philadelphia.
Franks is currently being held in Pennsylvania as a fugitive and is awaiting extradition to Delaware.
47 ABC’s Rob Petree spoke to Cpl. Leonard DeMalto with Delaware State Police who said investigators were able to link Franks to the crime through evidence and help from the community.
“Physical evidence that was collected and evaluated at the scene. Our detectives reached out and spoke to lots of members of the community,” Cpl. DeMalto stated. “We’re very, very grateful for their cooperation and their willingness to step forward.”
Out of respect for the family, police have refused to reveal how Cynthia Moss-Franks was murdered.
“With this case, speaking with investigators who have reached out to the family, that information is just going to be kept close to the vest for now out of respect for their privacy and their wishes,” DeMalto concluded.
Police are still searching for Cynthia’s silver 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS with Delaware vanity tag “YCANTI”. It is believed to be in the Philadelphia area. Anyone with information on the vehicle’s location is asked to contact Detective D. Grassi at 302-365-8441 or email Daniel.Grassi@delaware.gov.
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BRIDGEVILLE, Del. – Delaware State Police are investigating a homicide that happened on Friday morning in Bridgeville.
At approximately 9:13 A.M., officers from the Bridgeville Police Department responded to Champions Drive in Heritage Shores to check on a 57-year-old woman, who lived there. Family members were concerned for the victim when they were unable to reach her. Officers entered the home, where they, unfortunately, found the woman deceased. Police say it appeared to be a homicide.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit took over the case at the request of the Bridgeville Police Department. Detectives are attempting to locate the victims missing vehicle, a silver 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS with Delaware registration “YCANTI.” A similar vehicle below is depicted for reference.
At this time no suspect information is available. Identification of the victim is pending notification to her family and relatives. The Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident. Detectives ask anyone with information to contact Detective D. Grassi by calling 302-365-8441 or by emailing Daniel.Grassi@delaware.gov.
