TAYLOR LEE FRANCO - 19 yo - Davenpooprt IA

8:20 a.m.


Taylor Lee Franco, 19, of Davenport, who went missing Sunday in the
woods in northeast Iowa "knows how to handle himself" outdoors,
according to sister-in-law Sarah Ford, 25, also of Davenport.


Ford congregated with a search party this morning to look for Franco, her husband's brother, who she's known for six years.

“He’s like my little brother," Ford said. “He’s a prankster. Everybody loves him.”

Franco
went inside a rural home Sunday, claimed it was his, then disappeared
barefoot with the homeowners’ bloodhound apparently with him, according
to authorities, who said Franco exhibited signs of confusion. There was
no evidence that drugs or alcohol were involved.

Officials
believed him to be somewhere in the 925-acre Brett Klima Wildlife Area
north of La Porte City and began searching for him Sunday. The search
was suspended late Sunday and resumed early Monday morning, with about
40 officials and concerned citizens, family and friends.

“He knows how to handle himself, but he’s not a Boy Scout," Ford said, noting that Franco is used to being outside.

"We're worried, obviously, but we're trying to stay positive and we're determined to find him," she said.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120402/NEWS/304020021/0/BUSINESS02/?odyssey=nav|head

Missing Davenport student found safe

GILBERTVILLE, Iowa — A La Porte City man who was out for his morning exercise found a missing college student Monday.

Medics with La Porte City Ambulance took 19-year-old Taylor Lee Franco, a Hawkeye Community College student from Davenport, to Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo after he was found walking north of Gilbertville at about 9 a.m.

“We’re just happy that he’s OK,” said roommate Taylor Moellenbeck. He, family and friends had been helping authorities in the search on Sunday and again this morning.

He declined further comment.

Authorities had been looking for Franco after he allegedly showed up at a rural La Porte City home Sunday morning apparently thinking it was his. He wandered off without shoes when he was approached by the owners.

The residents’ bloodhound continued to follow him, and authorities later found his parents’ car parked nearby.

Franco apparently spent Sunday night outside.

Joel Bishop said he usually rides his bike north along the recreational trail near the Cedar River and then turns around when he reaches the gazebo just south of Weiden Road.

On Monday, when Bishop reached the gazebo, he was greeted by the missing bloodhound. Inside he found Franco, who didn’t have a jacket but was wearing a fleece vest.

He said he wasn’t actively looking for the student but soon realized what he found.

“That’s when it clicked from last night’s news,” Bishop said.

The student wanted to continue walking, so Bishop traveled with him and talked as they headed north toward Waterloo.

“I offered him my peanut butter crackers, I offered him my sweatshirt, but he wouldn’t take it,” Bishop said.

He said Franco appeared to be slightly dazed but was able to hold a conversation.

Bishop was without a cell phone, and after walking with the student, he headed off trying to find someone with a phone. He said he went to two houses before finally finding some construction workers to make the call.

Black Hawk County sheriff’s deputies and La Porte medics caught up with Franco where the bike path crosses Weiden Road.

Read more: http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/missing-davenport-student-found-safe/article_ec9816cc-7c60-11e1-aedc-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1qwpkbhxf