New photos of man wanted in Elizabeth Thomas kidnapping
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on Monday released new photographs and surveillance videos of the man accused of kidnapping a 15-year-old Columbia, Tenn., girl one week ago.
Tad Cummins, who has been added to TBI's top 10 most wanted list, is accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Thomas. There is a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
The TBI's investigation thus far has suggested Tad Cummins "may have been abusing his role as a teacher to groom this vulnerable young girl for some time in an effort to lure and potentially sexually exploit her," an statewide AMBER alert update from the TBI said.
"She may not realize that she's a victim, but she is certainly a victim," TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said. "She needs help, she needs our best efforts and she needs the attention of this country to be on the lookout for her."
DeVine urged landowners to search their properties for Cummins' silver Nissan Rogue and travelers to keep a special eye on parks and parking lots. He said the TBI would release new video footage of Cummins, as well as the most recent photo of Thomas that exists, later Monday evening.
District Attorney General Brent Cooper said Cummins will be charged with the aggravated kidnapping of Thomas, in addition to charges he faces for an interaction that took place with Thomas at Culleoka Unit School, where he taught and she was a student.
Cummins was suspended by the school when the Maury County Sheriff's Department began investigating him for sexual contact with a minor and formally dismissed on Tuesday after the two first absconded.
Cooper said Thomas has led a "difficult life" and that Cummins may have used his greater age and experience to manipulate the teen. He declined to elaborate at Friday's press conference. DeVine also commented on the teen's home life, saying it "may not have been the best," but that her family and community love her and want her back.
Since issuing the AMBER Alert on March 14, the TBI has received too few leads, and none have produced any credible sightings of Cummings or Thomas. The "shockingly low number of tips" has led the TBI to conclude the pair are likely out of view of the general public or have traveled outside of the southeast, DeVine said.
He repeated that the more authorities learn about Cummins, the more they believe Thomas is in imminent danger.
Going forward, detectives are working to learn the pair's movements in the weeks leading up to their disappearance. They are also trying to discover what training or expertise Cummins possesses that would allow him to continue avoiding detection, such as wilderness training.
The TBI would like to hear from anyone who may have had an interaction with either individual prior to their disappearance.
Thomas was last seen when she was dropped off at a Shoney's restaurant in Columbia between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. on Monday. Surveillance video appears to show Cummins at a nearby gas station getting fuel. Information places Thomas in the vicinity of Decatur, Ala., just after 3 p.m. Monday, according to the TBI.
The teenage girl is described as being white with blond hair and hazel eyes, and is 5 foot 5 inches and 120 pounds.
Cummins is a 6-foot white male with brown hair and brown eyes and weighs 200 pounds.
He drives a silver Nissan Rogue with Tennessee license plate of 976-ZPT.
Anyone who provides information leading to Cummins' arrest will be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
The TBI is urging the public to remain vigilant and contact the TBI with any information at 1-800-TBI-FIND. If you spot Cummins vehicle with a Tennessee license plate 976-ZPT, call 911.
