Franklin disappeared from his rural Butler County home July 29, 1997. No vehicles were missing from the property. Through the investigation into his disappearance, it was determined that he was murdered. Franklin is believed to have been shot and buried along the Walnut River. Investigators searched for months near the river looking for a body, but they never found a trace of Franklin. Franklin's wife, Kelly Harrod Bishop, was sentenced to more than 30 months in jail on a charge of solicitation to commit attempted first-degree murder in the case. Jerry Trussell was also convicted of counts of aiding and abetting as well as conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. His wife, Tamara, was charged after admitting her role in the murder. Testimony at the trial proved the Trussells and Kelly Harrod planned to kill Harold together.