Suspect in Quincy bank robbery arrested

Suspect in Quincy bank robbery arrested

4 months, 1 week ago

Adams Co. State's Attorney says QPD's work was vital in catching Willie B. Franklin

 

Authorities have arrested a man believed to have been involved in multiple bank robberies, including one in Quincy.

Adams County State’s Attorney Jon Barnard said Willie B. Franklin, 37, was arrested by federal authorities earlier this week.

Franklin is a suspected in nine separate bank robberies in the Midwest, including the robbery at First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust on December 26. Other cities were Franklin allegedly struck include Kankakee, Il.,  Wentzville, Mo., Mt. Vernon, Il., Iowa City, Ia., Manteno, Il., Morton, Il., and two in Peoria.

Barnard says Franklin will likely face federal charges, but bond has been set on the Adams County warrant in the amount of $500,000.

“Based upon a review of the investigation of the Quincy bank robbery, as well as reports from several of the other bank robberies, special credit goes to the Quincy Police department in breaking this important multi-jurisdictional case,” Barnard said. “While this office is not permitted to discuss specific evidence in a pending case, it is clear that the prompt and thorough action of the Quincy Police Department, including the Patrol Division and Investigative Division, developed critical clues that, in cooperation with other agencies, tied Franklin to the multiple bank robberies.”

Barnard also credited QPD for the work at the Quincy robbery scene and said their efforts were vital in putting all of the pieces together to build the larger case.

“As a result of that effort, critical clues were developed, along with surveillance video from the robbery itself,” Barnard said “Investigators from QPD then proactively shared the results of their investigation with other State and Federal authorities searching for other clues to the identity of the robber or his method. Information developed in that canvass quickly tied the man later identified as Franklin to bank robberies in Wentzville, Mo., and Manteno, Il.. Based upon the coordinated efforts of a number of agencies, and clearly advanced by the information developed by the Quincy Police Department, Franklin became the prime suspect in the additional bank robberies, leading to his arrest.”

For more on another robbery allegedly committed by Franklin, click here.