Man wanted in Elizabeth Thomas disappearance may have been spotted in Texas
A man wanted in connection to the disappearance of 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas may have been spotted in Texas, authorities there confirmed Thursday afternoon.
Corpus Christi police spokeswoman Gena Pena said police were dispatched about 1 p.m. to the 4500 block of U.S. Highway 181 in North Beach after a call from Tennessee was forwarded to the police department.
Authorities issued an Amber Alert for Thomas out of Columbia, Tenn., after her parents reported her missing March 13.
Law enforcement officers are looking for former Maury County high school teacher Tad Cummins, who is suspected of abducting Thomas.
Authorities have been looking for a silver Nissan Rogue with license plate 976ZPT. The call from North Beach indicated an SUV with partially-matching plates may have been spotted.
"Units are out there trying to look for the vehicle but nothing has been found," Pena said about 1:45 p.m.
But later on, Pena issued a statement saying a search failed to turn up any results.
"Officers were dispatched and thoroughly checked the area, surrounding businesses and surveillance videos for any leads," he said. "As of this point, we are unable to substantiate any of the information provided and have not received any credible witnesses placing either Elizabeth Thomas or Tad Cummins in the area."
Cummings was Thomas' 50-year-old high-school teacher at Culleoka Unit School in Maury County, Tenn. He has since been fired.
A warrant was issued for Cummins' arrest after a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation suggested he "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."
Related:
TBI: Tad Cummins searched 'teen marriage' on internet before kidnapping
New photos of man wanted in Elizabeth Thomas kidnapping
Reach Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.