Where is Wander Franco? Why did he not show up for summons?
The plot thickens as suspended Tampa Bay Rays All-Star shortstop does not appear for summons in the Dominican Republic.
Wander Franco is not yet a wanted man, but the authorities in the Dominican Republic are inching ever closer to assigning him that status.
After the Tampa Bay Rays All-Star shortstop failed to appear for questioning, Judge Olga Diná Llaverías, head of the National Directorate of Children, Adolescents and Families, said that “there are several options open to the agency.”
Police carried out two raids on the baseball player’s home in Baní, in the south of the island and at the moment have no word on his whereabouts.
🇩🇴⚾ | Video of the moment when the Attorney General's Office raids the residence of baseball player Wander Franco in Baní, Peravia province in the south of the Dominican Republic; The authorities have not been able to find the whereabouts of the Tampa Rays player. https://t.co/bivcNSSA5t pic.twitter.com/hzGmMJe4FF
— ALERTAS MUNDIAL 🗺️ (@AlertasMundial) December 27, 2023
Complicating matters further is the fact that Franco apparently dismissed his entire legal team ahead of the 11 a.m. Thursday deadline to appear before the Special Prosecutor’s Office. It is as yet unclear as to whether or not Franco was aware of the summons to appear before or after this dismissal.
The case stems from allegations by three women that he had an improper relationship with them while they were still minors. Two women have filed legal actions against Franco and a third is the subject of investigation.
Franco was placed on unpaid leave as per the MLB guidelines pending the outcome of the investigation and the Rays have not released any comment on the ongoing case.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic have not filed any criminal charges against Franco as yet.