Well, I'll be interested to follow this through Mr. Potts day in court. Although I tried to keep an open mind, I had a rough time in this case.
Amusing | 12.08.07 - 3:11 pm | #

Thank God! That guy was as dirty as they come. Talk about a true sociopath. His passive aggressive behavior was unreal. He really thought he oculd smooth talk his way out of things. Unfortunately it was most likely Nailah's challenge of his EGO that provoked him. I will be very interested to see the case they have against this POS. Even if he wasn't guilty he is still a POS.

I'll also be interested in knowing EXACTLY how this "man" made his money.
Emerson | 12.08.07 - 3:23 pm | #

All right! Trust that the evidence is more than pretty good given the amount of time that has gone by. A lot of digging and building, I suspect.

Get better Steve.
Robert M. | 12.08.07 - 8:30 pm | #

I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Steve!

I was happy to read this story at the Trib this morning and I'm equally happy to see the follow-up posted here.

Mr. Pott's friends were again defending him in the article's comments section.

It doesn't matter because he won't be hurting anymore women for a very long time.
Emily Booth | 12.08.07 - 8:52 pm | #

From the Suntimes:

"Reginald Potts, throughout this entire investigation, tried to win public sympathy and favor and tried to portray himself as a victim,'' Deputy Supt. Hiram Grau said. "Credit goes to our detectives because they were never swayed by Mr. Potts's antics. He is a con man and what do con men do? They fool people. But to our credit, our officers were never fooled by this guy."

"Potts's records show an array of aliases, Social Security numbers and dates of birth. He said he runs Amaya Investment Group, LLC, although the company has been involuntarily dissolved for failing to file an annual report, according to the state of Illinois."

"In a recent interview, he said he earns money from hedge funds and real estate deals."

"According to orders of protection filed in September 2007 by a Maywood woman Potts had a child with, Potts allegedly choked and pushed her, kicked on her doors and fired gun shots at her house. Potts also allegedly called her mother with this threat: "Next time THEY won't miss.''

http://tinyurl.com/3yxq7g

Emphasis on "they" by me. It does make one wonder if he had some thugs do any of his dirty work, barring NF's death. Apparently they were able to destroy his arrogant alibi with the unbelievably obvious phone records placing him in the same area as NF's phone at the same time. They do believe he acted alone and noone that was supposed to have seen him elsewhere that evening (his alibi consisted of him having gone out to several clubs)could testify to having seen him. How sweet is that? The street crew didn't back him up. I hope that men like this who go after innocent women like Nailah, continue to be so fueled by their blind, uncontrollable rage, that they continue effing up by making elementary forensic mistakes, like cell phone pings.


According to the above linked article Potts was arrested 20x's in last decade with 8 convictions, the majority of which stemmed from stolen vehicles. If this man had such a penchant for stealing cars, and was this good at it, I wonder if he continued to do so and ran a chop shop under the Amaya Investments cover and made his money there. Whether he is convicted of the homicide or not, LE is not going to let this POS get away. They just have to scratch the surface and I'm sure they'll find a litany of more charges to prosecute him for. His "friends" should run quickly in the opposite direction before they are swept up into the criminal probe. And any woman still standing behind this shitty excuse for a man should think about having a conversation with either of his baby momma's, or Nailah's family, about what happens to women who get too close to him. He is a criminal who would not stop, ever. It should be a great relief to Illinois to have him locked up.
Emerson | 12.08.07 - 10:13 pm | #

More sources on the arrest of Reginald R. Potts, Jr. for the murder of Nailah Franklin.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/ met...7nailah.article
coyotewaits | 12.08.07 - 11:15 pm | #

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story...ocal& id=5822197

http://www.nbc5.com/news/1480521...ml? dl=mainclick

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/ nai...s.2.606681.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ ne...hi_tab01_layout

and once again it was cell phone usage and location activity that provided evidence

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfo...TY& pageId=1.1.1
coyotewaits | 12.08.07 - 11:24 pm | #

I'll also be interested in knowing EXACTLY how this "man" made his money.
Emerson | 12.08.07 - 3:23 pm

Some local rumors included that he was involved for the last three years in mortgage equity loan scams, flipping foreclosed and repossessed properties to raise their prices, involving a group of brokers and investors defrauding loan companies and home owners. Supposedly the U.S. Treasury Dept. with FBI assistance had been investigating others he was connected to in this matter (not part of or any thing to do with the current sub-prime mortgage debacle but flipping has been occurring there also).

As I said this was only rumor for what I could deduce, but so often rumor is truth if not also slightly exaggerated.
coyotewaits | 12.08.07 - 11:41 pm | #

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ ne...0,6013422.story

This Potts guy just seems to be attracted to jail bars. Police didn't have to go hunting for him to arrest him late yesterday. They just drove the short distance down to Cook County jail from their violent crimes headquarters.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ ne...0,1493913.story

Kudo's to a beleaguered Chicago Police Department, which is justifiably so, that they receive praise for doing the work in this case.
coyotewaits | 12.09.07 - 12:02 am | #

get well steve,

greetings from downunder!
Michael | 12.09.07 - 4:32 am | #

emails: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.
pookie | 12.09.07 - 2:03 pm | #

Bond denied for Reginald M. Potts, Jr.

More facts @

http://www.chicagotribune.com/ne...ack=1& cset=true

(you will need to register with an email address and password).
coyotewaits | 12.10.07 - 6:58 pm | #

I would like to thank the police for a job well done Reggie Potts u are a hot mess an its time to pay u didnt have to take Nailah O. Franklin life
I just glad u wont beable to hurt any one else.
e | 12.11.07 - 11:10 am | #

Really, see Coyotewaits' comment. Sounds to me like Mr. Potts was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I think Nailah (after his stalking and harassing)threatened to blow the whistle on the real estate scams which included "others". He might have had "orders" to take care it. Wow! I wonder if his constant attempts at "getting arrested" was a way to get himself in custody and would provide him with enough media coverage as a sort of "protection" a "safe place" until he can reveal the details about the scams and whose involved (maybe to save his own neck). Wow!!! I KNEW there was a reason this case stuck out, it's way more than just a jilted lover kills beautiful girl. Stay tuned!
Jane Doe | 12.11.07 - 4:40 pm | #

After all that mess Potts said on this blog; "Why would I want to harm her? I have too much to live for". You are such a big liar as well as a MURDER!!!! I hope you get the death penalty. How can someone, or anyone make you so mad that killing someone comes to your mind? It's not like you can answer my qestion, I'm sorry.
VISTINA BROWN | 12.12.07 - 2:07 pm | #

Reginald Potts, he thought he got away with murder. You forgot all about the technology that's out. I bet he was wearing gloves, wiped his finger prints from her car and threw away her cell phone. Potts thought he wasn't going to get caught, that's why he was on this site talking about he didn't have anything to do with Nailah's murder. You were trying to convince us, as well as the media that you were innocence. Your stupid self forgot about they can track where you are by your cell phone. Fry in HELL!!!!
Poochie | 12.12.07 - 2:18 pm | #

Before he fries in hell, he shall rot in jail.
GTRA | 12.12.07 - 10:56 pm | #

Well done LE...well done! Now, let's get this party started, him tried, convicted and punished...and may his punishment be 10 times worse than what he did to the beautiful Nailah Franklin!
Lox | 12.13.07 - 12:23 am | #

Get well Steve! I always had a gut feeling that he did it. Esp. when he was on here blogging and arguing with me and a few other people. Knowing that he did it, is pretty scary. We were talking to a murderer on here. I read that if convicted he WILL get the death penalty, as he should.
MissHoney | 12.13.07 - 3:40 am | #

I knew that the police dept had more than they let on. They knew all alone that it was Potts. RIP Nailah, they now have the person that harmed you. Of course he will PAY!! Potts, I wish you were able to get on this site like you were back in Sept talking about what you didn't do. How can you dispute the cell phone tracking device? YOU CAN'T!!!! I hope someone that's close to Potts looking on this site. Ask him when he calls you collect; I thought you was at Target?
Has | Homepage | 12.13.07 - 10:31 am | #

I had been checking periodically on google news for the word that Chicago LE had finally gotten this POS, since I haven't had much online time. I'm glad to have read it here. Thanks for the follow-up, Steve and I hope you're feeling better.

Nailah's murder needs to be tried as a capital case. It's a wonder this POS was out on the streets given his past. I wish Nailah would have had the protection she needed after filing the police report against him, but we can't go back and change that.
[Sandra] | 12.13.07 - 11:15 am | #

Steve I remember when you traced that I.P, and it came back to a myspace page. You know someone found out who's name it was under, so I was thinking whosever computer he was on at the time, was indeed aware of what he did. They were posting on many sites, and even emailing people trying to convince them that R.P was innocent.
GTRA | 12.13.07 - 3:22 pm | #

It is mind-blowing knowing all of us that was on this blog,was infact talking to the killer.
GTRA | 12.13.07 - 3:24 pm | #

Something is weird about this case, i knew Reginald potts and i'm shocked to hear about his past convictions but something not right. Do it take alomst three monthes to get the GPS data? What ever happen to the evidence on the car like finger prints did they get any? Remember the body they said she wasn't shot nor stabbed so how did she die? They never really offically clarified that. Also, although it's not likely that someone else had his phone during the time of NF murder but how would they get that evidence that he had his own phone? Sounds like i'm defending Reginald potts? I knew Reginald Potts and he is not a scary person having said that you never know what a person is capable of, i think it may be possible he had something to do with her death which is bad enough but if i was going off of my true feelings i say not a chance he did it with his own hands "not a chance" but let's look at the evidvence and people keep a open mind and really disect the evidence, wasn't the body dropped off days after they started searching for her? You may wonder what do that have to do with anything, I could go into this much more but then you guys may think i helped him out or something i'm just saying don't be so quick to convict, life is full of surprises.
truth | 12.13.07 - 7:35 pm | #

Truth you may want to read this
Here is the link: http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/...7/12/ potts.html
GTRA | 12.13.07 - 7:57 pm | #

It is not clear at all from the Proffer of Evidence as to whether NF was already deceased (murdered) while RMP traveled down the Dan Ryan Expressway. Both their cell phones are being tracked. Was there one car (hers) with the two of them in it. Obviously as he needed a ride back into the city from Hammond where he dumbed her car.

Therefore it seems she was killed (or kidnapped) at her condo. I do not think she would have went without a fight but it remains confusing how a slight of man as RP was could manage a dead body from condo to car. My guess is he somehow convinced her to travel with him in her car to Calumet City, and killed her at the 1 Park Avenue address. Is that the golf course and pond area that they searched.

There is no mention of the Outback Steakhouse sighting (next to the golf course), or of the cause of death, other than it was not by shooting or stabbing as previously stated in the coroner's original report.

This case still retains it own bizarreness. When exactly was she killed? And why did she travel with him. My guess because I can't figure it out from the proffer is that RP car jacked her with a firearm threat and forced her to drive them to Calumet City area. I can't imagine her driving there voluntarily, but then this case was weird from the beginning because NF herself fueled the flames of the break off of the relationship by investigating the criminal background of RP and then confronting him with that knowledge, e.g., the infamous emails by both posted here on this blog.
coyotewaits | 12.14.07 - 2:38 am | #

he did it. a guilty conscious says more than a confession.
Weezy's anal demon | Homepage | 12.20.07 - 9:17 am | #

According to Cook County Jail, he has court tomorrow.
gtra | 12.21.07 - 1:02 am | #

@ truth I will pray for you. it must be horrible to know a murderer. As you should know it takes time to get all types of evidence processed. Three months was good considering. She was killed the same day she was last heard from. She was reported missing the next day. Prayer will help you through but please dont be in denial. You truly never know what someone is capabke of
Concerned | 12.24.07 - 4:07 pm | #