Update: Nailah Franklin case

Over the weekend, a new twist developed in the Nailah Franklin murder case involving the man Nailah took out a restraining order on. That man has been arrested Friday on a misdemeanor charge in Chicago and is being held without bond until a hearing today. Police have not named the man as a suspect but internet sleuths tracked down his arrest records and identified him as Reginald Potts, 30.

Apparently, Nailah took out a restraining order on Potts after he threatened to go public with a sex tape showing her in an uncompromising position. There were no verbal threats of violence from Potts upon her person - just the threat of releasing the tape which she claims was stolen from her home.

Potts has an interesting criminal history involving prior assaults on girlfriends and an escape from FBI custody. To look at his photo he seems to be a man with a charming, reserved demeanor. But looks can be deceiving. The twist in all of this is that the man (or one of his many girlfriends) has leaked emails between Nailah and Potts onto the internet in a move to absolve him of guilt. But one of his responses to her emails paints him in a harsh light (maybe they shouldn’t have leaked that email?)

Apparently, Nailah was smitten with this playboy who was well-to-do with multiple businesses, multiple women, and lived a lavish lifestyle that included a posh condo and a fancy home in the suburbs. According to the emails she sent to Potts, Nailah was dating him but was not in a serious relationship with Potts. As often happens when young women give it up up to “ballers,” her emotions got involved which led her to make some questionable decisions - like not asking him to use protection.

In one long, drawn out “Dear John” email to Potts, she wrote:

As if this wasn’t enough you completely disrespected what we shared (whatever it was) through the constant flirting with my friends, saying ridiculous things to me like “I saw Jerry and asked him do you bust down”. Or let’s see the 9AM or 12 AM booty calls. Come on Reginald, if you really thought I was THAT CHICK then why would you continue to deal with me in the manner that you did, UNPROTECTED??

In response to her email, Potts responded in a harsh and insulting tone that seemed to belittle Nailah and had no regard for the emotional anguish she was feeling. This is typical of men who have their pick of women - and why young ladies should avoid these men like the plague:

On Sep 6, 2007, at 3:11 PM, rmpottsjr@yahoo.com wrote:

[rmpottsjr@yahoo.com] thought you’d find this article from LookSmart’s
Sender’s Message:

Hey, ms.franklin, heres another one for you. It is sad that your tired azz is so caught up in me! Are you madd that i stopped f+ckin with you, aw don’t be upset, you give ok head and your azshole is kinda tight so you should be able to find a decent man in no time. Just do yourself a favor and get a lift for those saggy azz breast. But for real, I won’t engage in this with, I know you MADD that I won’t accept you calls or come f+ck you when you call me at night, but talking sh+t and sending around articles about sh-t I did years ago does not embr*!@$%&**!@$%&**!@$%&* me, it only makes you look bitter and desperate. As I told you before stop calling, me testing me, stop trying figure out my moves or who I’m f+cking, just know that I don’t wanna f+ck with you! However if you want to keep up this kiddie sh+t and keep my name in your mouth, I’ll join you, and start p*!@$%&**!@$%&**!@$%&*ing around copy’s of the tape that show my d+ck in your mouth. Up to you, cause as I’ve said before there is nothing you can say ! or do that will hurt,embr*!@$%&**!@$%&**!@$, or stop me from doing me. Just get over it, I don’t want your goofy azz! Have good day young lady.

Nailah went missing on September 18th. Her nude body was found in a forest preserve in suburban Chicago on September 28.

Source: SR