NEWS

Tad Cummins threatened teen with 'repercussions' before kidnapping, court papers say

Natalie Neysa Alund

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Update: Tad Cummins arrested, Elizabeth Thomas found safe in northern California

A former Middle Tennessee teacher accused of kidnapping 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas last month threatened the girl with repercussions, according to newly filed court papers.

Tad Cummins, 50, was a “masterfully manipulating predator” who pressured the girl to go out with him by threatening her with repercussions at school, according to a petition for perpetuation of testimony filed Thursday in Maury County Chancery Court.

The 12-page petition was filed by the girl's father, Anthony Thomas on behalf of the girl who disappeared from her Columbia, Tenn., home March 13. The girl and Cummins, wanted on an aggravating kidnapping charge in the case, remained at the center of a statewide Tennessee Amber Alert out of Maury County on Friday.

The case garnered national attention after TBI investigators last month announced Cummins may have been abusing his role as the girl's teacher to groom her in an effort to lure and potentially sexually exploit her. Cummins, who taught at Culleoka Unit School, was fired after a student reported seeing what appeared a kiss between the two in January.

The new filing request the court to authorize the family's attorney, Jason Whatley, to take depositions of people who know information about interactions between the girl and Cummins but are hesitant to cooperate in sharing information related to the case.

According to the petition, on the evening of March 13 one of Thomas' siblings told police that the girl woke the sibling earlier that morning to tell her that if she didn't return by 6 p.m. to call for help. Thomas disappeared that evening.

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Read more about the Amber Alert case:

► Tad Cummins arrested, Elizabeth Thomas found safe in northern California
► 5 things we know about Tad Cummins
► Timeline shows troubling events before Elizabeth Thomas' disappearance
► Tad Cummins threatened teen with 'repercussions' before kidnapping, court papers say
► Elizabeth Thomas' dad pleads for her return at Columbia tree planting
► TBI: Tad Cummins searched 'teen marriage' on internet before kidnapping

Since then, the petition alleges, her father said he learned Cummins, on more than one occasion picked up the girl from her home for a meal, threatening her that if she did not go with him she would face repercussions at school.

"The child had told various siblings and/or friends that she was scared of Cummins and felt in over her head," the filing shows.

The filing goes onto state Cummins, after his suspension from school, frequently visited a fast food restaurant where Thomas worked.

The teen, court papers show, at times would hide from him and ask coworkers to lie about her being at work.

"In short, petitioner asserts that Cummins was stalking the child," the documents show.

The petition claims the teen began to feel guilty Cummins was suspended from school and that she also became fearful of Cummins' reaction to his suspension and her belief that he would punish her in some way for it.

It goes onto state that in class, the child had a special seat next to Cummins, that he would give her money and gifts and that students sometimes witnessed physical contact from him to her including rubbing her shoulders and back while at school.

Since they disappeared, there has only been one credible sighting of the pair at an Oklahoma City Walmart.

As of Friday, the TBI had received more than 1,400 tips in the case. So far none have been credible.

Thomas is described as being white with blond hair and hazel eyes, and is 5 feet tall and 120 pounds. Cummins is a 6-foot white male with brown hair and brown eyes and weighing 200 pounds.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.