It’s been more than 30 years since Erica Franolich disappeared from a Middleburgh street without a trace, and the lack of progress on the case has her brother Dana Poprafsky frustrated.
Ms. Franolich was last seen on October 13, 1986 near the bar on Railroad Avenue in Middleburgh.
She called one of her brothers from the bar that night, said she feared for her life and needed to get back to her home in Michigan.
Ms. Franolich was supposed to call again the next day to arrange her return to her home state but “she never called again,” according to Mr. Poprafsky.
Thirty years later, Mr. Poprafsky has his own theories on what happened to his sister and who is responsible.
She deserves better, he added.
“She deserves justice no matter what her life was,’ he said Friday morning. “She didn’t deserve that kind of end.”
Many people were affected by her disappearance.
“Both my parents died without knowing what happened to her,” he continued. “How do you think that made them feel?”
He is asking anyone with information about his sister or her disappearance to contact the State Police.
“There has to be some resolution. I’d like to see it in my lifetime,” he added.
Ms. Franolich was 26 years old when she was last seen. Mr. Poprafsky described her as being about five foot one, a little more than 100 pounds, with brown hair, protruding front teeth, and a small dent on her forehead from a childhood fall.
She moved to Middleburgh in August 1986.
Ms. Franolich, the mother of two, was “pretty heavy into the drug scene at the time,” her brother noted.
Though many people have been questioned and interviewed about the case, Mr. Poprafsky is hoping someone comes forward with more information.
“People may change their mind and talk.”
State Police Investigator Steven Koveleskie is now handling the disappearance.
The case is active and not closed, he said Monday morning.
“Things are being done,” although there is nothing new.
“It’s slow going. It’s getting harder.”
A large number of depositions were given in 1991 and 1992, Mr. Poprafsky said. He and his brother were two of those who were questioned.
They then tried to conduct their own investigation and were “basically told, ‘if you don’t go home, you will be arrested,’” by the State Police.
He doubts the police will look into it, he added. Some of the depositions taken were “full of lies.”
Mr. Poprafsky would like a grand jury to look into the case.
He noted that a conviction can be made without a body.
According to a website on the disappearance, she was last seen at about 9pm on October 13, 1986 and she was not reported missing until February 1987.
Ms. Franolich had five brothers and two sisters.
Her younger son committed suicide, Mr. Poprafsky said, and her older son, who lives in Georgia turned 36 or 37 this week.
Ms. Franolich’s granddaughter, also named Erica, just turned one.
The State Police can be contacted at (518) 630-1712 if anyone wants to provide information regarding the case.