Amber alert still active for 15 year old who is missing

Mar 16, 2017 at 01:11 pm by bryan


Few tips of funneled in to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for a missing teenager. The TBI continues to work on locating 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas, who became the subject of a statewide AMBER on Tuesday evening (3/14/17).

Elizabeth Thomas is a white female, with blonde hair, hazel eyes, stands 5'5" and weighs 120 pounds. She was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and black leggings. Thomas is believed to be in the custody of 50-year-old Tad Cummins, a white male, who stands 6'0", weighs approximately 200 pounds, and has brown hair and eyes. He is believed to be armed with two handguns and driving a silver Nissan Rogue with Tennessee tag 976-ZPT. A warrant has been issued for Cummins for Sexual Contact with a Minor.

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On Thursday (3/16/17), the TBI released the following statement:

"The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation remains extremely concerned for the well-being of Elizabeth Thomas, the victim in an ongoing AMBER Alerts in Tennessee and Alabama. Though the TBI cannot discuss specifics at this time, investigative efforts have revealed a troubling pattern of behavior by Tad Cummins, suggesting the 50-year-old 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."

Ongoing investigative efforts indicate Thomas was last seen on Monday morning at approximately 8:00 AM at the Shoney's in Columbia, Tennessee, after being dropped off by a friend. Her parents reported her missing later in the day. Investigators can place Thomas in Decatur, Alabama at approximately 3:06 CST on Monday afternoon (3/13/17), though neither individual has a known connection to that area. Since then, efforts to identify their exact location have proven unsuccessful.

Mr. Cummins is believed to be connected to an alleged sexual interaction with Ms. Thomas at the school where he taught and where she was a student. The school district suspended Cummins when the allegations surfaced and terminated his employment Tuesday.

The TBI has been able to determine Cummins secured a title loan for a personal vehicle several days before his disappearance, netting $4,500 in cash.

If you have information on Thomas or Cummins, call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. If you spot the vehicle and can verify the license plate to be TN 976-ZPT, call 911.

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