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Mike Ferguson
Hello everyone and welcome to episode 467 of the True crime all the time unsolved podcast. I'm Mike Ferguson and with me as always, is my partner in true crime, Mike Gibson. Gibby, how are you?
Mike Gibson
Hey, I'm doing good man. How about you?
Mike Ferguson
I'm doing great.
Mike Gibson
That's good.
Mike Ferguson
You know this episode is going to come out right at right as we're probably coming home from crime con.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
But we're taping it before we leave so we can't really say how crime con went. We'll have to save that for next week.
Mike Gibson
It was amazing.
Mike Ferguson
But I'm sure it will be. We know it will be. Yeah, let's go ahead and give our Patreon shout outs. We had Chloe aired.
Mike Gibson
What's going on? Chloe?
Mike Ferguson
Stacy.
Mike Gibson
Hey, Stacy.
Mike Ferguson
Claire. Mathias.
Mike Gibson
Thanks, Matthias.
Mike Ferguson
Constance.
Mike Gibson
Because she's constant. Constance.
Mike Ferguson
I love that name.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
Katie.
Mike Gibson
Hey, Katie.
Mike Ferguson
And last but not least, Sally Everheart jumped out at her highest level.
Mike Gibson
Well, thanks, Sally.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, we appreciate the new support. And then if we go back into the vault this week, we selected Wendy Webster.
Mike Gibson
Well, Wendy Webster, love it.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, we appreciate the long term support. Absolutely so we have an episode out right now on True Crime all the Time and it's part three of our Long Island Serial killer coverage. So I hope everyone is enjoying that. If you haven't, make sure you check those out. All right, buddy, are you ready to get into this episode of True Crime all the Time Unsolved?
Mike Gibson
I am.
Mike Ferguson
We're talking about the death of Francesca Alvarado. 22 year old Francesca Alvarado, a devoted single mother, went on what was supposed to be a one night trip to Atlantic City in March 2012. She never returned. Over a year later, parts of her remains washed up on the beach. So a couple of things here. Obviously that is a very sad and tragic thing. Right now we're going to have to talk about what happened to her, what may have, what did. But I did want to ask you if you've ever been to Atlantic City.
Mike Gibson
I have not.
Mike Ferguson
I haven't either. Yeah, I know a lot of people go there to gamble, but never been.
Mike Gibson
That's just one of those places. I. I don't know. Just haven't had the need to go there and be nice to go there at least once.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, I mean, well, you and I are not big gamblers.
Mike Gibson
No.
Mike Ferguson
Obviously we're getting ready to go to Vegas here and we're probably not going to gamble at all. I. I didn't gamble last time we were there for crimecon. I did give my oldest, who at by that point had just turned 21, a hundred dollars, which I think I've told everyone she lost in about two minutes.
Mike Gibson
It doesn't take long, does it?
Mike Ferguson
It does not. Shouldn't say lost it. She didn't lose it. She.
Mike Gibson
She gave it away.
Mike Ferguson
She gave it away. Basically. She knows where it went, but the
Mike Gibson
hotel was happy about it.
Mike Ferguson
Francesca Alvarado, who went by the nickname Checa, was born on February 17, 1990. She was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. Francesca was the youngest of eight children. Sadly, she experienced a difficult childhood. Her father began serving a life sentence the year she was born.
Mike Gibson
Man, that had to be rough on her mom. Eight kids, nine kids, and.
Mike Ferguson
And dad goes away for a life sentence. But think about the, the kids and especially Francesca. She's never gonna know her father, obviously, if he's sentenced to life in prison the year she was born. But even the other kids, I mean, that's, that's just, you know, again, I don't remember. I don't know if I saw what he did or anything like that, but I'm assuming he deserved a life sentence. For, you know, whatever it was. But it's tough on the family.
Mike Gibson
Absolutely. Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
Her mother, Valentina Amador, died of liver disease when Francesca was just nine years old.
Mike Gibson
So the hits just keep coming.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, I mean, I said it right. Pretty difficult childhood. And I think we're. We're seeing why. Then after her mother died, Francesca and her sister Frances were sexually abused by a relative.
Mike Gibson
I mean, it just. It's not stopping.
Mike Ferguson
No, it's just very tragic. One thing after another. It took Francesca a long time to come to grips with what happened. And the healing process created an even stronger bond between the sisters. The Philadelphia Daily News reported that Francesca and Mia live with different family members until they reached legal age. The Philadelphia Obituary Project reports that their older sister, Christina Ray, adopted the girls and took on a motherly role. Tina was 20 years old at the time and had two young sons of her own.
Mike Gibson
It's a big responsibility.
Mike Ferguson
It is. I mean, having two youngsters is a lot to deal with.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
But, you know, amazing of her right to take on and adopt her sisters and kind of be their surrogate mother,
Mike Gibson
trying to do the best she can, keeping some of the family together.
Mike Ferguson
Francesca was described as a creative and sporty teenager. She was the type of person who would always lend an ear to a friend and keep their secrets if they asked her to. Okay. Creative is a word that gets thrown around for a lot of people. I don't know about sporty, though.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
I mean, does that mean you're into sports or that you're a snappy dresser? I. I really don't know.
Mike Gibson
I'm gonna say it's more of. You're into sports with her. Maybe you're a sporty, but you guess because of the way you dress.
Mike Ferguson
I'm also super fast. I'll take you outside and race you right now. Tina Ray told Fox 29 her spirit was so bright. She was so beautiful in the pictures. When you see her smile, that's what she really was. You really couldn't make her mad.
Mike Gibson
It says a lot about somebody.
Mike Ferguson
It does. And I'll be honest with you. I don't know too many people like that. I can pretty much make anybody mad. Yeah.
Mike Gibson
It's not hard for you to do that.
Mike Ferguson
No. It seems like I have a real knack for it. It was said that Francesca had a voice like Whitney Houston. Okay. You can say that someone is a great singer.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
But when you compare someone's voice to Whitney Houston, there really is no higher praise.
Mike Gibson
No, that's. That's the top of the echelon there.
Mike Ferguson
I mean, she is by most people's standards, one of the greatest voices of all time.
Mike Gibson
Yeah, yeah.
Mike Ferguson
As far as it comes to, to
Mike Gibson
singing, what a great compliment.
Mike Ferguson
One of Francesca's obsessions was Dwayne Johnson, AKA the Rock. She would often shout his signature line, can you smell what the Rock is cooking? Upon entering a room. She even had a photo of the Rock and his wife on her bedroom ceiling. But she put a photo of her face over the wife's.
Mike Gibson
Now that's interesting because you do something similar when you come in before, before we record. You do that whole, can you smell what the Rock is cooking? Even do the stance and look up at the corner for some weird reason. And then you too have a poster of Rock and his wife with your picture over her face. It's interesting.
Mike Ferguson
You just think it's weird because I'm wearing the tights and the boots and I'm shirtless and all that. It's a striking picture.
Mike Gibson
Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm okay with the tights and the boots because, you know, I like my singlet. But, you know, I don't think you
Mike Ferguson
should admit that, that you're okay with me in titan boots.
Mike Gibson
I really, I'm really not.
Mike Ferguson
I don't think you should. So obviously she had a big thing for the Rock and I get it. You know, he's a good looking dude. I mean, obviously he's in great shape. I really like him as an actor. Yeah, I know not everybody does, but I think he's kind of funny.
Mike Gibson
He is kind of funny.
Mike Ferguson
Now, not all of his movies are, you know, home runs, but who's are? Let's be honest.
Mike Gibson
Well, that's because you made him with Kevin Hart.
Mike Ferguson
That's true. Francesca preferred crafting over going to parties. During high school, she played volleyball, went on Outward Bound wilderness trips, and enjoyed writing poems about her family.
Mike Gibson
Oh, man, I love writing poems.
Mike Ferguson
I know you do. Yeah, mostly dirty limericks is what I would call them.
Mike Gibson
But yeah, I guess I was kind of stretching them, saying their poems.
Mike Ferguson
Francesca worked part time as a supermarket clerk. She didn't make a lot of money, but she would buy her sister Mia gifts at the Dollar store or bring Tina roses for Valentine's Day.
Mike Gibson
Very sweet.
Mike Ferguson
So I, I mean, let's put, you know, her life into perspective and the things that everybody said about her. We mentioned it, right. She had a terrible childhood.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
But obviously she was doing pretty well. She had adjusted and really seemed like an amazing person. Thoughtful, caring, you know, loved sports, outdoors,
Mike Gibson
I mean, it could have went a totally different direction.
Mike Ferguson
Absolutely. At the age of 18, Francesca had her daughter Jania. She was absolutely devoted to her daughter, and friends and family noticed that Janaya was a quick learner because Francesca read to her and sang to her every day. Mia raised her two daughters alongside Francesca. Mia told the Philadelphia Obituary project that Francesca really was my life partner. We realized that we were all we had, and we just became a team, and it was me and her against the world.
Mike Gibson
I mean, they, you know, were raised underneath the same house. Right. I mean, they had the same issues. Right. They had to deal with their. Their dad, their mom, the relative that abused both of them, and they're side by side.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah. I think the key thing here is the bond that developed through all of those, you know, trials and tribulations. It was obviously super, super strong between the. The two siblings. Yeah. Francesca and Janiyah lived with Mia and her children for several years. But in early 2012, a few months before her disappearance, Francesca and Janiyah moved into a house in the Hunting park section of Philadelphia so that they could have more space. Francesca lived with a female roommate who was not identified in the news sources that we use for this episode. In March of 2012, Francesca planned to enroll in classes at the Community College of Philadelphia. She was a big fan of the show America's Most Wanted and hoped to pursue a career in criminal justice.
Mike Gibson
I think there was a lot of people that were big fans of that show.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, we've talked about it before. Right. How big was it to get a loved one's case profiled on America's Most Wanted? But here, I think, is another aspect of the show, which is how many people watched it and either decided they wanted to go into law enforcement or a field related to it.
Mike Gibson
Right.
Mike Ferguson
Something within the world of criminology, whether it was forensics or something like that. It's kind of hard to really know what type of impact a show like that can have on people, but I
Mike Gibson
bet it had a significant impact.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, I think so. Although she had moved, Francesca remained extremely close with her sisters, and she talked to them almost every day. She was excited because her sister Tina was pregnant and she was helping to plan the baby shower. She had also purchased an Easter outfit for Joniah, indicating that, you know, she was looking forward to the holiday. I mean, all of these, Gibbs, they were signs, right. That Francesca was happy, she was planning for the future. Not really indications that she was looking to run away from her life.
Mike Gibson
I mean, there's no signs there, no And.
Mike Ferguson
And it's important. Right. We talk about it in a lot of unsolved episodes, but for good reason. You know, when someone disappears, there's always that question, okay, did they meet with foul play? Did they have some sort of accident? Or did they just decide to up and leave and start a new life? And I think you have to look at what's going on in their life prior to the disappearance to help gauge the likeliness of this kind of runaway start a new life scenario. Yeah. And I think from everything that we've talked about, just not seeing it here doesn't mean it couldn't happen. The signs just don't point towards it being that likely.
Mike Gibson
Yeah. I mean, she really seems happy.
Mike Ferguson
On Saturday, March 17, 2012, Francesca had plans to go to Atlantic City, New Jersey, with a man named Tracy Williams. She got a babysitter for Joniah and was only supposed to be gone for one night. Sources reported that Francesca didn't know Williams well. He was really more of an acquaintance. The Philadelphia Daily News reported that he was decades older than Francesca.
Mike Gibson
Decades.
Mike Ferguson
Decades.
Mike Gibson
That's significant.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah. It's like one of your relationships. What do they call that? A May December romance or whatever it is. According to the Philadelphia obituary project, Francesca wanted to let off some steam before registering for classes the following week. You know, sometimes, Gibbs, you just have to let off some steam.
Mike Gibson
Absolutely. Gotta do it, man.
Mike Ferguson
You know, we were eating pizza for dinner before we started recording. My wife and daughter have one more day left of teaching. Yeah. And they don't even have kids anymore. The kids last day was today. I mean, they're excited as all get out. They might throw a keger for all I know. This weekend they might.
Mike Gibson
But, you know, they're gonna be letting off some steam. They're gonna be happy. And the Sunday night routine is going to change.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah. No more having to get up. Mia said that Francesca had taken Jania to Atlantic City before. Adding Atlantic City to her was like Vegas. It was like the Great Escape. She felt like she was on top of the world. And I get it. That's how these places make you feel. Yeah, right. Vegas, Atlantic City. They want you to feel like you're on top of the world. They want you to feel happy, you know, loose. And let go of that money a little bit.
Mike Gibson
Exactly what they want. That's why they're catered to you.
Mike Ferguson
Francesca left on March 17 with Williams and his kids. Her sisters didn't hear from her after that. At first, they just thought she decided to extend her stay. Then Tracy Williams returned to Philadelphia, but Francesca did not. Tina told Metro Philadelphia she was supposed to come back later on the next day. You know, you go to Atlantic City for the day and you're expected to come back. And I think especially a person like Francesca is expected to return because she has obligations.
Mike Gibson
Yeah. She's got her daughter.
Mike Ferguson
Job.
Mike Gibson
Job.
Mike Ferguson
Now, is it out of the question that somebody might be having so much fun that they want to extend their stay? No, absolutely not. But what would you expect to happen if that were the case?
Mike Gibson
Yeah. You're gonna get a phone call, right? Yeah. Hey, I'm gonna stay another day if that's okay. Can you watch, you know, my baby for me? And I'll be back.
Mike Ferguson
Right. So if you don't get that, it just seems like, okay, that's probably not what happened. It's also the reason why we talk about what a great person she was. Being thoughtful, being caring. You would expect that if she was going to do that, she would have called at least one of her sisters. If not, both the sisters were unable to get in contact with Francesca on March 18th. On Monday, March 19th, Mia went to Francesca's home in Hunting park to check on her. She spoke to Francesca's roommate who said that Francesca had gone to Atlantic City and would be back in two weeks.
Mike Gibson
Two weeks. Wow.
Mike Ferguson
Which sounds strange.
Mike Gibson
Sure does.
Mike Ferguson
Because everybody else has it from Francesca that this is like a one night trip. And Mia thought it was odd because she knew Francesca would have told her if she was going on a. A two week trip. Mia also knew without a doubt that Francesca would not have left Janaya for so long without making proper preparations. And we mentioned it, right? She'd only arranged a sitter for one night.
Mike Gibson
Yeah, I mean, it definitely doesn't pass the smell test.
Mike Ferguson
No, no. That's not a person who is planning from the get go to, you know, stay in Atlantic City for two weeks. Yet you've only procured a babysitter for one night.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
Doesn't make any sense.
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Narrator 4
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Mike Ferguson
Mia was so alarmed, she and Tina filed a missing persons report. And I don't blame them one bit. I mean, I think if I was in their situation, I would be pretty alarmed as well. Yeah. Authorities learn that Francesca went to Resorts Casino with her male friend. The Philadelphia Obituary Project reports that she left the hotel room at resorts around 2am and said she was going for a walk. She never returned.
Mike Gibson
I mean, 2am in a resort area like that, I'm assuming it's similar to Vegas.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, maybe on a smaller scale, but yeah. Right. There's a lot going on at 2am Probably. Is that what you're getting at?
Mike Gibson
Exactly.
Mike Ferguson
I think you're right.
Mike Gibson
I mean, I don't think it's like a sleepy town or anything. I'm sure there's people out and about walking around, too. Now, are they going to be all the. So are they going to be the type of people you want to run into, though?
Mike Ferguson
Right? I mean, most people say that very little happens good after midnight.
Mike Gibson
Right.
Mike Ferguson
Some people say that you get into two, especially three o'. Clock. Okay. People call that, what, the witching hour or whatever, you know? But I'm with you. Vegas, Atlantic City, places like that, 2am is probably not that big a deal. A lot of places there are open 24 hours. People are partying into the early morning, probably, yeah. But to leave alone and then never return, obviously that's a, you know, a big kind of milestone marker in this case.
Mike Gibson
And why did she feel like she had to leave at 2 o' clock in the morning?
Mike Ferguson
Right. What was she doing? Where was she going? Those are things we don't know. There was no record of anyone going in or out of the hotel room after she left until the following morning. Williams and his kids checked out and returned to Philadelphia. When questioned by the police, Tracy Williams said that he and Francesca split off in Atlantic City and she told him she would find her own way back. Now, is it possible that you go on a trip with someone and you get in such a fight that you just don't want to have anything to do with them, you don't even want to ride back with them, and you're going to figure out how to get back on your own. Yes, it is possible. Do a lot of people do that? Probably not.
Mike Gibson
No, I don't think so. But I mean, like you said, it's possible. And it wasn't like she was super close with Williams either. They were more acquaintances.
Mike Ferguson
But you'd have to say, right, that most likely to police, Tracy Williams is looking a little suspicious in this whole thing.
Mike Gibson
Yeah, I would say so.
Mike Ferguson
Because the story, while possible, maybe to the authorities, is not all that plausible. Police learned that Francesca was last seen near the Borgata Hotel casino and spa. Her sisters were especially worried because at the time of her disappearance, her cell phone was either lost or broken. So she had her laptop with her for communication. Her laptop has never been found, according to Fox 29. And we're all so attached to our phones nowadays that, I mean, I don't. Most people can't even imagine being without one for any period of time.
Mike Gibson
I think if you wanted to try a social experiment, I think you could, you know, take everybody's phone that lives in your house and lock them up and see what happens over the next 72 hours.
Mike Ferguson
I can tell you what's happened. You could get your ass kicked.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
At some point.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
And things are going to go real bad for you.
Mike Gibson
It's not going to.
Mike Ferguson
It's going to be Lord of the Flies up in here in my house.
Mike Gibson
You're right. So Gibby wants us to put our phones in this little box. He's going to lock them up.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah. I would blame it on you if that happened because it would be bad. But.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
You know, I guess my point is we just are so accustomed to having our phones with us and being able to communicate, you know, pretty much immediately. Yeah. Whether it's, you know, via phone or text or email or however. So to not have your phone and be forced to only be able to communicate, you know, through your computer, that must have been tough.
Mike Gibson
But you still. To communicate with somebody, you still have to find a place where you can get Internet access, you know, and then send your email and then what? Are you going to wait for a little bit or are you doing some type of messaging on the computer, waiting for that other party to respond before you leave? Wherever you found the Internet access at. It just seems like a very difficult method of communication.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, I mean, a little tougher. I mean, I guess if you got a Mac and you're an Apple user, you could probably, you know, you can text on a. On an Apple computer just like you would on your phone, but you Mentioned you got to have service. Now, I'm assuming she had service at the hotel, but if you're going on a walk, are you really going to take your laptop with you? Most people wouldn't.
Mike Gibson
I wouldn't think so.
Mike Ferguson
But you're not just going to, what, tuck it under your shoulder and. Or your arm and walk around town? So to me, the fact that it's never been found is okay. Something we're gonna have to keep an eye on. Now, the sisters don't believe she left on her own. Tina told Metro Philadelphia Francesca didn't have a car. He was her ride there. And it's very mysterious. I think that goes back to my point. Yeah, it's possible they got into a tiff or. Or something like that, but normally when you take a ride or a trip with someone and they're the driver, you come back with them. Now, it might be a silent trip, right? And you might part ways after the trip is over, but how else you getting home? You taking maybe a train? There's probably a train that runs from Atlantic City to. To Philadelphia.
Mike Gibson
To add to what you just said, I just feel like, you know, if you take somebody somewhere, it's kind of your responsibility to make sure they get back safe, too.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, there's. There's a. There's a part of that. But again, I think the police are probably looking at Tracy with, you know, quite a bit of suspicion. Mia told the Philadelphia Daily News that the notion Francesca would leave on her own was ridiculous. Francesca, who was described as a homebody, would not leave the city by herself. She didn't go to the Jersey Shore often and would likely be worried about getting on the wrong bus to get home. So I mentioned the train. Obviously, there's the bus as well. Probably not taking a taxi. Right. Or that'd be pretty expensive.
Mike Gibson
Yeah, probably too much money there.
Mike Ferguson
After Francesca went missing, a group of 30 or more family and friends traveled to Atlantic City every two days and spent their nights on the boardwalk and handing out flyers and looking for clues.
Mike Gibson
Dedication there.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, but like we always say, right, if it's your family member or your really good friend, I mean, that's the type of stuff that, you know, people are going to give up their time for. And heck, sometimes strangers do that. It's admirable. The Philadelphia obituary project reported that police officers tore the flyers down because they didn't fit the, quote, family friendly image of the area.
Mike Gibson
See, I think that's wrong.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, if that's what happened, I. I get it. Well, Maybe there's an ordinance against putting up flyers, that would be one thing. But if there's no ordinance against it, and, you know, they're simply tearing it down because it's making the city look bad. Okay, well, the family's trying to find their loved one. Right.
Mike Gibson
Help them out.
Mike Ferguson
Tina told Metro Philadelphia in April 2012. The not knowing is what's going to kill us. Because it's been so many days when somebody's missing. You live every day without knowing what's happened to them. Even if she's not okay, even if she's not alive, if we can just find her. Because who can live with looking for a loved one every day without knowing what happened to them? It's horrible how you can wake up in the morning and the sun is shining. It's beautiful. And then night comes and it's another night that she hasn't come home. And I'll be honest with you, I think she pretty much encapsulates exactly what, you know, a lot of the victims families go through, and we've heard it time and time again. The not knowing is the worst part. Yeah. Nobody wants to find out that their loved one was killed. But not ever knowing is worse than finding that out.
Mike Gibson
Just to be in that limbo.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah. Because at a certain point, Gibbs, you know, everybody, I'm sure, has to come. Maybe not to the realization, but it has to be there in their mind, that something really bad has happened. You know, when so much time goes by, at a certain point, people have to start looking at the probability.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
That there was foul play or something bad has happened. So then you're getting into the territory of you probably already think the worst, but just you're never going to know.
Mike Gibson
And that can go on for years and years, as we know.
Mike Ferguson
The family was also upset that reports surfaced with misinformation, including claims that Francesca was a sex worker and was depressed. Tina explained people really believe she was an escort or that she was depressed or sad. She just went to Atlantic City for the day. I don't know where they got. She was an escort. She's never done that in her life. She doesn't have a criminal record, and she's not a drug addict. I just don't want people to think she was somebody that was sad and walked away from her life.
Mike Gibson
Yeah. It's got to be frustrating, you know, to hear people say things about your. Your sister that, you know, you don't believe is true. Why are they saying these things? And you don't want the narrative to Be that she was sad, so she just walked away from her life.
Mike Ferguson
Or possibly ended her life.
Mike Gibson
Or ended her life.
Mike Ferguson
True crime all the time Unsolved is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Well, Progressive makes it easy. Just drop in some details about yourself and see if you're eligible to save money. When you bundle your home and auto policies, the process only takes minutes, and it could mean hundreds more in your pocket. Visit progressive.com after this episode to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states. As the months passed without answers, Francesca's family continued handing out thousands of flyers and distributing them at hospitals and shelters. They hosted events in the area to raise awareness. Lt. Harold Lloyd of Philadelphia east detective said Philadelphia authorities were working with the Atlantic City police and the FBI. Tracy Williams was questioned extensively. He was cooperative in the beginning, but eventually got a lawyer and refused to take a polygraph. Lt. Lloyd told Philadelphia Daily News, this is very much an ongoing investigation, so I can't say whether Williams is or is not a person of interest. We are working on some new leads. And, you know, I've said it a couple of times, right. I think the police had to have looked at, you know, Tracy Williams with quite a bit of suspicion. Now, in the beginning, he's cooperative. We don't know what changed his cooperation. Was it maybe some hard questions, accusations even?
Mike Gibson
But, I mean, he did the right thing. Lawyer up, don't do the polygraph.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, I. I agree with you. But, you know, there's also this thing of, you know, how does it make him look to the average person? Because even though I do think in most instances that's the best course of action, I also think that a lot of people still view that as, well, he must be guilty, because why would you need to lawyer up if you're not guilty?
Mike Gibson
Oh, I definitely think it didn't look good to the public.
Mike Ferguson
But here's the thing I thought was kind of strange. Okay, yes, it is an ongoing investigation, but when you say as law enforcement, you know, I can't say whether he is or is not a person of interest. Well, if he wasn't a person of interest, I think you could come out and say it. So to me, really kind of saying that is, to me saying he is.
Mike Gibson
Yeah, I agree with you.
Mike Ferguson
Now, I don't know if that's 100% true, but that's how I'm taking it. I get it. For legal reasons, they probably can't come out and say it, but to me, by saying it that way, you're saying it without saying it. Francesca's sisters also reported that her roommate at the time declined to cooperate with investigators, per the Philadelphia obituary Project. And remember, the roommate was the one who said that she was going to Atlantic City for two weeks. Yeah, I still find that very strange.
Mike Gibson
I do, too. So you wonder what type of connection is there.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, we don't know what the relationship was. We don't really know much about it. Mia told the Daily News that whoever was responsible may have known of Francesca's difficult background and presumed no one would miss her. They couldn't be more wrong. Mia explained that before she died, their mother told her to always look after Francesca and to stick together.
Mike Gibson
Well, in a perfect world, that's what siblings do, look after each other.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, I get it. Not all siblings get along great. You'd love for them, too, but doesn't always happen. Over a year after Francesca went missing on August 6, 2013, the New Jersey State Police reported that a man fishing on the beach at Corson's Inlet State park found a shoe with human remains inside. Inside an Adidas high top sneaker was a fully intact foot. The toe still had traces of glittery purple nail polish. Authorities released a picture of the sneaker. Mia screamed when she saw the photo on the evening news. She knew right away that it was her sister's shoe.
Mike Gibson
Oh, how tragic.
Mike Ferguson
She contacted the New Jersey State police, who began DNA testing. Mia told Fox 29, I couldn't stand those sneakers. I hated those sneakers. I told her they were so ugly. So as soon as we saw that, we knew that was Francesca. I just couldn't accept that reality. So I said, you know, she knew I hated those sneakers. She threw it in the water because she wanted me to find her. She's fighting, and she wants us to keep fighting. I was so in denial. And, you know, to be honest, I think that's an easy place for victims, family members to find themselves in. Yeah, you know, kind of a place of denial. Okay, this doesn't look good, but I'm going to spin it right for my own mental health or my own well being. I don't want to give up. I don't want to believe this is her. So I'm going to say, you know, she threw it in there to help me try to find her.
Mike Gibson
But you got to do what you have to do to keep. Like you said, keep your mental wellness going on.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah. Yeah, I think you do. Six Weeks later, the family received confirmation that the foot was Francesca's remains. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, when the state police asked for additional swabs from Janaya, they knew what the results were going to be. Although the foot was intact, it was badly decomposed, which may explain why DNA testing took several weeks. On September 25, 2013, the family announced on Facebook that the foot found in the shoe was Francesca.
Mike Gibson
So does the dreams of the family just come crumbling down at that point?
Mike Ferguson
I don't know. I think it depends on the family. It depends on the family member, probably, because I still think there are ways that you can spend it. Yeah, it's her foot. It was in her shoe. But maybe just something happened to her foot and she's still alive and well. That's true out there somewhere. And there, I'm sure, are going to be people that are looking at it as a very, very bad sign. According to their statement on Facebook. They said, it is with deep sadness, pain and heartache that we inform you. Team Cheka. The loss of our beloved sister, Francesca Milagros Alvarado. It has been confirmed from the state of New Jersey that the DNA match is our sister. The family told the media that the hardest part was trying to explain to Francesca's daughter that she wasn't coming back. Tina had been taking care of Joniah after Francesca went missing. Mia told NBC10. I kept telling my niece, mommy's working. Mommy's gonna come home. Yesterday, I had to look at her differently. And, I mean, obviously there's a lot of people to feel for in this story. Janaya, Francesca, the victim, but also her sisters. Right. You think about Mia taking care of her daughter and ultimately at some point, having to tell her that, you know, mommy's not coming home. Also, I just keep thinking about her seeing this shoe on the news. And obviously, if the police had any idea that was her shoe, they probably would have come to her before splashing it all over the news. Yeah, I don't think they had any idea whose it was.
Mike Gibson
I also think about what Tina and Mia have went through, all their, you know, time together growing up with Francesca, and now they lose her. It just. It's like another notch on that journey through hell.
Mike Ferguson
Now that they had confirmation that Francesca was dead, their focus shifted. They believed Francesca was murdered and they wanted the killer to be brought to justice. Mia told Fox 29 years later. It's just frustrating how we had to find my sister. There were no authorities that found her. There was no search crew. No one searched the water they all fell on. She left willingly, so she will return willingly.
Mike Gibson
So if it wasn't for that fisherman that day, would they be still wondering what happened to her sister?
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, it's possible. But I do want to get back to this, you know, this thing. And it's cropped up in a lot of the cases that we've done where police, when they're dealing with an adult and a missing person's report of an adult use that kind of line. That is. Well, they're an adult. They can go missing if they want to or, you know, they don't have to check in all of that stuff. I understand that way of thinking, but I think at a certain point, when you look at how much time has elapsed and you look at the circumstances around the person's life, I think you just have to take it all into account instead of making a blanket statement. Heck, Gibbs, they used to say authorities did that kids, when they ran away, ah, they'll just come back.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
And now we don't. We don't treat kids like that anymore. And I don't feel like we should, in most cases, treat adults like that. Now, there have been times where somebody has had this really long history of leaving for long periods of time and then coming back. Okay, well, that's a circumstance that you look at, and maybe in that case, it is kind of looked at as that. But when you have somebody who doesn't have that history has no reason to just up and leave. I just think that's a hard pill to swallow. They left willingly, and they'll come back willingly.
Mike Gibson
And, you know, there's time restraints when you don't go out and start looking for someone right away. It's not going to help the case.
Mike Ferguson
No. There are things that maybe you could learn within the first, you know, 48 hours, 72 hours that you're not going to learn after that. Because the people that you could have asked that have the information, they're now gone. Maybe they were just in town for, you know, a few days or whatever. I mean, to your point, it's always better, right, to get started sooner rather than later.
Mike Gibson
So why not error on that side versus doing the this hold and wait, you know, process at some of these police departments do.
Mike Ferguson
As time passed, the sisters frequently Googled human remains found and bones found, waiting for more of their sister's remains to wash up on shore.
Mike Gibson
What a strange thing to have to do to figure out if your sister's remains are going to be popping up on some beach somewhere like you're tracking this down yourself.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah. And I'm sure it's not a thing that you just do once.
Mike Gibson
Right.
Mike Ferguson
They're having to Google this probably at a. A pretty good pace, like, every so often, because you want to look to see if there are any news stories that might be applicable to your sister.
Mike Gibson
So, you know, we're talking about this case here, and I can't help it. In my mind, think about the TCAT case that we're doing. Body parts being found near the beach. I wonder if articles like that pop up when they search.
Mike Ferguson
Oh, it could be. I mean, you know, we're talking about the Long island serial killer.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
So geographically, it's, you know, not that far, really. In 2014, Francesca's tibia washed up on shore in the same waters. In 2015, her femur was found. Mia said about the additional discoveries, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. It's so bittersweet. I get this sense of joy, like a spiritual joy, that Francesca is, like, spiritually cheering me on. Yes, girl. Yes.
Mike Gibson
I mean, I guess I would be happy to find more body parts of my loved one.
Mike Ferguson
Well, I guess you could look at it a couple different ways. You could look at it as you're closer to recovering that person's remains. Yeah. Even though it's at this point, piece by piece, you could also look at it from the standpoint of, I think there's pretty little doubt that Francesca's not coming back. Right. At first, there was the. The foot. To me, that's not a great sign. But when you start finding tibias and femurs and things like that, I think it's pretty hard to stay hopeful that she's still alive. Yeah.
Mike Gibson
I think the only one thing that I would be happy about is maybe there's gonna be some type of clue that could help us.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah. Yeah. Because not only are they trying to figure out what happened to her, but if somebody hurt her, then you gotta figure out who did that. On April 4, 2016, the family chose to bury the recovered bone on top of their mother's grave. Every Thanksgiving since 2012, a group of family and friends go to the Baptist church across from the resort's Casino hotel in Atlantic City, the area where Francesca was last seen to deliver food and clothing to those in need. Thanksgiving was Francesca's favorite holiday, so this is a way to honor her memory and continue to raise awareness for her case. The group feeds about 70 to 90 families each year.
Mike Gibson
Wow. That's impressive.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, it's a. It's a really impressive thing. In 2021, Mia told the Philadelphia Inquirer that nearly every day for eight years, she has Googled phrases like human remains, bones, Atlantic Ocean found. Every day for eight years. Years. She also said when nothing comes up, she feels both relieved and anguished.
Mike Gibson
It would be a tough. That would be some tough feelings to have.
Mike Ferguson
Well, that is the definition of a no win situation. Yeah, but I'm assuming she feels like she has no choice but to keep doing that, because what if she misses something? What if there's a story out there about some human remains being found and she chooses that day not to. To look it up? Maybe she's gonna miss it. I don't know. Yeah. When Mia does find new stories about human remains found near the area where Francesca went missing, she calls medical examiners to get more information. Tina told the Inquirer, we were grateful because other people are never found at all. Now it's just a matter of who's responsible.
Mike Gibson
Yeah, I think that's where, you know, the detectives need to start. So, yeah, I mean, it's just a matter of the detectives digging in, trying to get some type of Lee. But that's going to be tough, I think, in this case.
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, I don't know that they. They have a lot to go on. Detective Sergeant Joseph Etri told the Inquirer that their leads have been exhausted. The New Jersey State Police consider Francesca's case cold, but it does remain open. The family has never received a cause of death, and no additional remains of Francesca have been found. There are no known persons of interest, and no arrests have ever been made in connection to Francesca's disappearance and death. Anyone with information about the disappearance and death of Francesca Alvarado is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Major Crime south unit at 609-882-2000, extension 3353. So, Gibbs, as we wrap this case up, I don't think there's any doubt about it. Francesca, along with her sisters, it sounds like especially one of her sisters, had a really rough childhood, but it seems to me as though she fought through and she was on the other side of that. She was doing pretty well in life. She had a daughter. She had an extremely close bond with one of her sisters, and I believe both. I just keep going back to the fact that she planned to go to Atlantic City for one night with this man who was referred to as an acquaintance. You have the roommate telling, I think, authorities that she said she would be gone for two weeks. That's strange. What's also Strange is that, you know, Tracy Williams comes back and says, well, you know, we kind of went our separate ways and Francesca said she'd find her own way back. Well, is that the truth or did something happen? And that's a version of the story that, you know, he wants everyone to
Mike Gibson
believe, but if he's not willing to talk any more than he has, we're never going to know. Anything else there?
Mike Ferguson
No. And if he had something to do with her disappearance and death, why in the world would he talk?
Mike Gibson
Exactly. And that was very bizarre for what her roommate said. But if that's what someone told her roommate, I think I'm assuming the police, you know, checked it out. You know, why did. Why did you say two weeks? Where did you hear that from? Who told you that?
Mike Ferguson
Yeah, we don't have the answers to that, but, yeah, that could be a nothing burger. But, you know, it did seem strange.
Mike Gibson
Definitely feel like it's foul play, though.
Mike Ferguson
I do, too. I just. I think the police just don't have a lot to go on. And I still go back to the one investigator saying, well, you know, we can't call this person a person of interest, but we're also not saying he's not a person of interest. I think a lot of times if you have completely ruled someone out, you most likely would come out and say they're not a person of interest.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
So it's like a non denial denial. Is that what it's called?
Mike Gibson
I think so.
Mike Ferguson
That's the way I'm looking at it. But I don't really know what that means. And there wasn't a lot about him, you know, in the research as the years went on. Right. He talked with them initially, he kind of shut them down, and they probably didn't have much more to go on.
Mike Gibson
Yeah.
Mike Ferguson
So doesn't tell us a whole lot about him.
Mike Gibson
It really doesn't.
Mike Ferguson
But that's it for our episode on Francesca Alvarado. We got a voicemail. You want to check that out?
Mike Gibson
Let's hear it.
Jenna
Hey, this is Jenna from Clover, South Carolina. I'm still going through all of the past episodes, and I made it to, I think, August of 2024. But something that I've noticed about you, Mike, is that when you're talking about the years, you always say, you know, 1984, 1850, all those good things. But then when you talk about the 2000s, you always say 2024, but you don't say 1994. So I'm just curious why the change there? I mean, I say 2024 or 2026 and just 1995. 1996. So just curious your thoughts on that. I will listen for this later on. Thanks, guys.
Mike Ferguson
Man, that's a great question. I don't really know why I do that.
Mike Gibson
I've been telling you for years. You're saying it wrong.
Mike Ferguson
No, you've never said a word. But I did notice it because in this episode, I said 2012. Yeah, I very rarely say 2012 or 20, but I always. She's right. I always say 1985 or 1991 or
Mike Gibson
what would float weird. If he didn't say it like that, it'd be 19.
Mike Ferguson
Oh, yeah. But maybe the 2012 sounds weird, but it doesn't to me. I don't know why.
Mike Gibson
It just rolls off your tongue. That it does. Easy.
Mike Ferguson
It does.
Mike Gibson
Interesting, though.
Mike Ferguson
Yep. I love it when people point out stuff.
Mike Gibson
Yeah. There's a lot of things that they can point out about you.
Mike Ferguson
Well, there's a lot of mistakes that. That I make, for sure. I wouldn't call this a mistake. It's just a kind of a strange detail.
Mike Gibson
I think on our mistake board. I'm putting it as a mistake on your side because my.
Mike Ferguson
Yours is full. We can't even put any more on there. We're gonna have to erase some of the ones to make more room. But we appreciate the voicemail very much. All right, buddy. That is it for another episode of True Crime. All the time unsolved. So for Mike and Gibby, stay safe and keep your own time. Tick, Sam. At first, I didn't think it was real. I woke up to this blinding light, and I was transported to another place. Pluto tv. Then I heard a voice.
Jenna
Come with me if you want to live.
Mike Ferguson
There were thousands of movies and shows, and they were all free. Truth is, it's just so Beautiful on Pluto TV.
Narrator 3
Free streaming of Terminal Terminator 2, Fringe,
Mike Ferguson
Arrow, the 100 and the X Files may cause excitement, loss of sleep, and sudden belief in extraterrestrials. No credit cards or alien encounters necessary. Pluto TV Stream now pay never.
This episode focuses on the heartbreaking unsolved case of Franchesca Alvarado, a 22-year-old single mother from Philadelphia who disappeared during a trip to Atlantic City in March 2012. Through detailed storytelling and sensitive discussion, the hosts explore Franchesca’s life, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, and the painful search for answers by her devoted sisters. The episode highlights family bonds, possible suspects, law enforcement response, and the enduring uncertainty faced by victims’ loved ones.
[03:16 – 13:01]
Early Life
“That had to be rough on her mom. Eight kids, nine kids, and dad goes away for a life sentence.” – Mike Gibson [05:09]
“So the hits just keep coming.” – Mike Gibson [05:53]
Personality and Passions
“She would often shout his signature line, ‘Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?’” – Mike Ferguson [09:01]
Motherhood and Drive
“Franchesca really was my life partner... it was me and her against the world.” [11:41]
[12:57 – 14:15]
[15:02 – 19:32]
Trip Details
Strange Details
“It just doesn’t pass the smell test.” – Mike Gibson [19:12]
[20:32 – 33:00]
Reporting Her Missing
“To leave alone and then never return... that’s a big kind of milestone marker in this case.” – Mike Ferguson [21:37]
Tracy Williams’ Account
“He was cooperative in the beginning, but eventually got a lawyer and refused to take a polygraph.” – Mike Ferguson [32:33] “I think the police had to have looked at, you know, Tracy Williams with quite a bit of suspicion.” – Mike Ferguson [23:15]
Family’s Search
“The not knowing is what’s going to kill us… you live every day without knowing what’s happened.” [28:47]
[29:48 – 33:32]
Misinformation and Stereotypes
“I just don’t want people to think she was somebody that was sad and walked away from her life.” [31:01]
Police Approach
“They all fell on, ‘she left willingly so she will return willingly.’” – Mia, via Fox 29 [40:07]
[35:02 – 47:08]
Finding Franchesca’s Remains
“I couldn’t stand those sneakers… as soon as we saw that, we knew that was Franchesca.” – Mia [35:50]
Emotional Toll
“Every day for eight years, she has Googled phrases like ‘human remains,’ ‘bones,’ ‘Atlantic Ocean found.’” [45:52] “When nothing comes up, she feels both relieved and anguished.” [46:20]
Grieving and Advocacy
[47:08 – 50:44]
Status
Family’s Plea
“Now it’s just a matter of who’s responsible.” – Tina [47:08]
On Franchesca’s character:
“Her spirit was so bright. She was so beautiful in the pictures. When you see her smile, that’s what she really was. You really couldn’t make her mad.” – Tina Ray [08:00]
On the investigation:
“He was her ride there. And it’s very mysterious… They were more acquaintances.” – Mia & hosts on Williams [26:57]
On the experience of not knowing:
“Even if she’s not okay, even if she’s not alive, if we can just find her. Because who can live with looking for a loved one every day without knowing what happened to them?” – Tina [28:47]
On the recovery of remains:
“It’s so bittersweet. I get this sense of joy, like a spiritual joy, that Francesca is, like, spiritually cheering me on. Yes, girl. Yes.” – Mia [44:11]
Overall Tone:
Caring, straightforward, and respectful of the victim and family, as is the hallmark of the hosts. Occasional lighthearted banter provides relief but does not undercut the gravity of the discussion.
End of Summary