Found Safe TN - Mary Catherine Elizabeth Thomas, 15, Maury County, 13 March 2017 #13 *Arrest*

[KaaBoom]

I'd like to know more about the evidence that TC had been making plans to "live off the grid". He doesn't even seem to be a camper, according to his wife. Scary.

He preparing by watching survivalist shows. That would be a pretty good indication that he planned to live off the grid.

Investigators also tell CBS News that Cummins appears to have been planning this for some time by watching survivalist shows.

Manhunt intensifies for missing Tenn. teacher, student

 

[KaaBoom]

That assumes that he's been close enough to a police vehicle to have had the plate read, and that he hasn't switched out or covered the plate with a paper plate. IMHO, it would be easier to switch the plate than ditch the car.

If they are not driving the car, and I agree that if they still have it, they are driving it as little as possible, then I'd like to know how they are getting to a store to buy food, because I don't think they are hunting and fishing.

Where would he get a plate to switch with? As for covering the plate, police are trained to look for that type of thing. That would be an automatic reason to pull the car over.

As for the second point, that is a good question. Maybe they have bought enough supplies to last a long time.

 

[Kapua]

He preparing by watching survivalist shows. That would be a pretty good indication that he planned to live off the grid.




Manhunt intensifies for missing Tenn. teacher, student

He prepared "by watching survivalist shows". Right. A lot of people watch survivalist shows for entertainment.

JC said he wasn't a camper and didn't bring the small amount of camping equipment he had with him. They had to stop for food at Walmart two days into their trip. JMHO, but I am not getting a "prepared" vibe from him. He's been lucky only because he has enough cash to finance his escape so far.

:cow:

 

[KaaBoom]

He prepared "by watching survivalist shows". Right. A lot of people watch survivalist shows for entertainment.

JC said he wasn't a camper and didn't bring the small amount of camping equipment he had with him. They had to stop for food at Walmart two days into their trip. JMHO, but I am not getting a "prepared" vibe from him. He's been lucky only because he has enough cash to finance his escape so far.

He successfully vanished, and hasn't been seen since. That takes some preparation.

 

[Deleted member 155000]

Where would he get a plate to switch with? As for covering the plate, police are trained to look for that type of thing. That would be an automatic reason to pull the car over.

As for the second point, that is a good question. Maybe they have bought enough supplies to last a long time.

You could get a plate from any driveway in America. Most people don't check their plates every day before they get in their vehicles. It would take a little while for the change to be discovered...especially if he took it off a vehicle in a longterm parking garage for ex.


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[midtoe47]

From the start, I've felt that the DA was in over his head with this. He has said some really obtuse things. This IMO is just another example. "At least then they'll know she's okay." Is he serious?!

No matter what Elizabeth says, she is NOT safe! She is a captive and in case this halfwit doesn't get it, there are a lot of psychological reasons that captives would say they are "happy." ie. groomed, systematically stalked, threatened to name a few.

I wish this DA would get the case reassigned or something, he is too close to the Cummins family and this isn't the first time he has made inappropriate statements about this kidnapping (the "romantic"thing). IMO it is these kinds of statements by somebody the town sees as an authority that are contributing to the complacent attitude about this crime.

Amen to this, can you imagine the poor Thomas family having to listen to this mess from Cooper?

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[KaaBoom]

You could get a plate from any driveway in America. Most people don't check their plates every day before they get in their vehicles. It would take a little while for the change to be discovered...especially if he took it off a vehicle in a longterm parking garage for ex.

No, it is not that easy. People would spot it, or the police would spot it. How long would take? How long would a car sit in a longterm parking garage? Months? I don't think so. The plates in a long term parking garage would all have or be check at least once a month, to find any abandoned vehicles that might be parked there.

 

[Hatfield]

You could get a plate from any driveway in America. Most people don't check their plates every day before they get in their vehicles. It would take a little while for the change to be discovered...especially if he took it off a vehicle in a longterm parking garage for ex.


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This is a really good point. I seldom if ever think to see if my plate is still the right one. LOL

He also could have had an old one from a prior vehicle and just used it.

I used to keep all my old plates from prior vehicles as sort of collection. So long as he had one with different numbers and it matched the current design then he could have swapped out the plate and registration sticker for the current year.

Just having different numbers even if they were still tied to his name probably would be enough to keep LE from thinking to call in an id check on the vehicle plate numbers. LE is looking for an exact match of the numbers while driving around.

If he didnt have an old plate with different numbers then stealing and swapping one with someone else would work too. He would have had to thought of that before he left his home state of course.

If he got pulled over for any reason then it would be a different story and he likely would be caught with old plates or switched plates because the registration and insurance would not match.

 

[whiteballet]

Ah, my bad, somehow I missed the "with parental consent" clause when I was researching.

I don't know who they'd find to do a not legally binding "marriage" either, considering that he is a fugitive. Still, Nevadans have a reputation for being MYOB kind of people. I don't know how reputation holds up to reality in a case like this.

Definitely not anyone legit. I was picturing some not-too-dirty grifter TC could convince with a few hundred bucks cash. Still unlikely though IMO. I would guess he is limiting their face time with strangers as much as possible.

 

[debirlfan]

There's a garage up the road from me that always has a couple rows of cars parked there, many of which have been there for months. He might well know of such a garage, and might even have felt an employee out regarding whether a certain vehicle was going to be worked on any time soon. There might be a way to go online and check that a plate was valid (not sure on that, think it varies by area.) "Borrow" a valid plate and he's all set - and even if the car gets fixed and owner notices plate is missing, they'll probably blame the garage for losing it, rather than assuming stolen.

 

[Deleted member 155000]

No, it is not that easy. People would spot it, or the police would spot it. How long would take? How long would a car sit in a longterm parking garage? Months? I don't think so. The plates in a long term parking garage would all have or be check at least once a month, to find any abandoned vehicles that might be parked there.

Ha. I am with you in that I consider it illegal and would never do it. But I have a family member in LE and he says pros who steal cars switch out plates with cars from all kinds of places all the time--tow lots, junkyards, cars left at seasonal cottages, storage units, or parked "out back." I know bc I asked him about this extensively during the Toni Anderson case when people originally theorized she might've driven off voluntarily and be in hiding.

Plus I know people out in the country who will own a few cars and just switch a plate between a few of them depending on which they're driving. It's madness, right? But I guess they're counting on not getting pulled over and a lot of us being oblivious that our plates were snatched.

Hopefully no one ever nabs mine bc I could prob go years without noticing!


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[Ontario Mom]

He prepared "by watching survivalist shows". Right. A lot of people watch survivalist shows for entertainment.

JC said he wasn't a camper and didn't bring the small amount of camping equipment he had with him. They had to stop for food at Walmart two days into their trip. JMHO, but I am not getting a "prepared" vibe from him. He's been lucky only because he has enough cash to finance his escape so far.

:cow:

Or because he has someone helping - and they haven't had to be out in public in weeks. Car in a garage, someone else going out to get groceries, etc.

 

[Blythe]

I just don't think TC is either remarkably intelligent or prepared. He picks up ET and she leaves her backpack behind. He leaves a note which alerts his wife immediately. He dyes his hair as if that is a surprise move.

Who's really looking for them? WS? It is easy to get lost in this country, apparently.

IMO they cannot be having the time of their lives. Someone who cares will eventually spot them. Their money will run out. I think their emotional states will crash first.

JMO, but besides being criminal I think RC is a fool who is much more impressed with himself than anyone else ever was. He ruined a good thing. He hurt many people and continues to damage ET.

It will all end, the sooner, the better. ET come home. AT continue your dialogue. TC, justice seeks you. MOO

 

[pegs]

I just don't think TC is either remarkably intelligent or prepared. He picks up ET and she leaves her backpack behind. He leaves a note which alerts his wife immediately. He dyes his hair as if that is a surprise move.

Who's really looking for them? WS? It is easy to get lost in this country, apparently.

IMO they cannot be having the time of their lives. Someone who cares will eventually spot them. Their money will run out. I think their emotional states will crash first.

JMO, but besides being criminal I think RC is a fool who is much more impressed with himself than anyone else ever was. He ruined a good thing. He hurt many people and continues to damage ET.

It will all end, the sooner, the better. ET come home. AT continue your dialogue. TC, justice seeks you. MOO

I totally agree! There's a huge difference between being parked on the couch with munchies watching survivalist shows and actually having to do it. I just don't see him as the rough 'n ready type at all. He is a more sitting in a cabana at a beachy motel, chowing down on nachos and cheap umbrella drinks type. The money will run out fast under those circumstances and when that happens he will have to come up for air. That is when he will make mistakes, or turn himself in.

I just don't see him as having the strength to cope with the stress that comes with not having funds, residence, etc. and especially not having a partner (JC) that can sustain him with her job and who has 30+ years of experience in dealing with a big, whiney man-baby. This can't go on much longer. He must be reading his social media and knows that most of the world thinks he is a colossal fraud, child molester, and overall dirtbag. That has to be a hit to his narcissistic ego, and a torpedo to his hero/savior fantasy that he thinks he has created for people to believe. As stress mounts and the fantasy fades, he will fold like a cheap suit. I just hope he doesn't do anything to further harm Elizabeth when that time comes.

If he does one decent thing in his pathetic, worthless life, I hope it would be that he takes Elizabeth to a safe place NOW, so she can come home and hopefully repair her life.

 

[Deleted member 155000]

I totally agree! There's a huge difference between being parked on the couch with munchies watching survivalist shows and actually having to do it. I just don't see him as the rough 'n ready type at all. He is a more sitting in a cabana at a beachy motel, chowing down on nachos and cheap umbrella drinks type. The money will run out fast under those circumstances and when that happens he will have to come up for air. That is when he will make mistakes, or turn himself in.

I just don't see him as having the strength to cope with the stress that comes with not having funds, residence, etc. and especially not having a partner (JC) that can sustain him with her job and who has 30+ years of experience in dealing with a big, whiney man-baby. This can't go on much longer. He must be reading his social media and knows that most of the world thinks he is a colossal fraud, child molester, and overall dirtbag. That has to be a hit to his narcissistic ego, and a torpedo to his hero/savior fantasy that he thinks he has created for people to believe. As stress mounts and the fantasy fades, he will fold like a cheap suit. I just hope he doesn't do anything to further harm Elizabeth when that time comes.

If he does one decent thing in his pathetic, worthless life, I hope it would be that he takes Elizabeth to a safe place NOW, so she can come home and hopefully repair her life.

I agree there's a big difference between researching survivalist stuff and doing it! Good reminder.

I picture them lying low in a remote cabin or cheap hotel/AirBnB. Something with few amenities probably, but could possibly be in a nice area with a warm climate or near lakes/ocean.

I don't think TC is a genius but he was educated and had the time and incentive to plan as much as he could. So far he's been gone over a month with her, so he apparently isn't the bumbling criminal we wish he was.






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[crhedBngr]

He prepared "by watching survivalist shows". Right. A lot of people watch survivalist shows for entertainment.

JC said he wasn't a camper and didn't bring the small amount of camping equipment he had with him. They had to stop for food at Walmart two days into their trip. JMHO, but I am not getting a "prepared" vibe from him. He's been lucky only because he has enough cash to finance his escape so far.

:cow:

RBBM

Indeed. If he is not being helped out by others, I wonder just what he'll do to finance this escapade. If he plans to stay in the U.S., he'll obviously have to get some type of job, and I firmly believe someone will recognize him if he tries to do so. A person can only alter their appearance only so far.

I see him standing in front of a Walmart, gas station or some business, spinning some type of sob story to get money ("my wife is really sick, and I've been laid off - can you please help?")

Will continue to keep my eyes open here in L.A.

JMHO

 

[Mom24]

It's entirely possible that he's still in OK city, or the surrounding area. If he bought groceries, it would make sense he had a place nearby. It would also be the last place anyone would look. And there's lots of exits where he can make a run for it if he gets noticed. It's a big enough city he could just meld in and I think he's got new ids, I wouldn't be surprised that he's going by his middle name Eric.

 

[Fraudbstr1]

Well, that MIGHT explain why he is charged with having "sexual contact" with ET.
Is a peck on the lips sexual contact?
Maybe to a first grader...
In this context teacher/student, I guess it is as well.
The emails probably tell it all.

MOO

Has it been specifically stated he is charged with SEXUAL CONTACT? If so, that may mean they didnt have proof of a sexual relationship (at that point anyway) if I am reading TN definitions correctly, there is a difference between sexual contact and sexual penetration. Penetration is the actual act of sex I believe. Again the key WORDS are AT THAT POINT they were going on the kiss, which falls under sexual CONTACT

http://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-39/chapter-13/part-5/39-13-501

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[Hoosier952]

Something that I don't recall being brought up, but admittedly I skimmed through several pages. What about something like a commune? There are lots of the organic gardening communities where you live on the farm for free in exchange for working there. I'm sure many are off the grid. A google search brought up a lot of options, so I would imagine you could find one about anywhere. And I'm sure you could find one where they wouldn't ask any questions.

I think the easiest way for them to go unnoticed long term and not live off the grid in the back of an SUV would be avoiding traveling together. Everyone is going to be looking for the pair, but how many would recognize TC or ET alone? How many would even recognize the two together? It's hard to ID a person you've never met and only seen once or twice on the news. Especially when the two could easily pass as father and daughter just because of the age difference. I don't think it would throw any red flags to the casual observer unless they were being overly friendly.

I wonder if someone who lives in the area can confirm if this is a practice. I have gone from Virginia to Union Station in DC to NYC, New Jersey, Philadelphia, without showing ID. But I have never paid cash, always credit card.

I've taken Amtrak 3 times from IN to Chicago and had to show my ID at least twice. The first two times, they checked as I boarded (while scanning my ticket), so the third time I had my ID out and ready. So I'm not 100% certain on the third trip. I get on at a stop that doesn't have an office or kiosk, just a shed, so maybe that makes a difference.

 

[Elle*Bee]

Somewhat OT but related. I'm Roman Catholic and I know that ET attended a Catholic Church (in addition to visiting the Cummins' church). I read that ET purchased a dress for her upcoming Confirmation. This weekend is the holiest of our Church and I'm sad that ET isn't home to experience it with her family. Her Confirmation would likely to have occurred at Easter Vigil (last night) or at Pentecost in several weeks. Prayers for ET, her family, Tads's wife, kids and grandkids.