TBI: 'Heroes' rescue missing Tennessee girl Carlie Trent

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed it has found the missing East Tennessee girl in a case that has garnered national attention.

Carlie Trent, 9, was found in Hawkins County after she went missing May 4, confirmed the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in a tweet Thursday afternoon. Her uncle, Gary Simpson, was taken into custody and charged with especially aggravated kidnapping.

"Thank God, she was rescued safe. And we hope all the medical examinations turn out positive," TBI Director Mark Gwyn said in a news conference Thursday evening.

She was rescued thanks to two "heroes," Gwyn said. ​Two men, Donnie Lawson and Stewart Franklin, found a remote site where Carlie was being held by Simpson, Gwyn said. One of the men held Simpson at gunpoint while the other called for law enforcement help, Gwyn said.

Gwyn said law enforcement had called on residents to search remote areas of their properties after learning Simpson had purchased camping equipment. It's believed Lawson and Franklin were patrolling the property on ATVs when they found Simpson.

Carlie was taken from Rogersville, Tenn., which is in Hawkins County. Simpson, who has no custodial rights for Carlie and is her uncle by marriage, removed Carlie from school under false pretenses, according to a TBI news release.

An earlier version of this story included information from the TBI that misidentified one of the men who found Carlie Trent.

Reach Dave Boucher at 615-259-8892 and on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.