Wow! Hard to find this thread!
ET was interviewed this weekend by Columbia Daily Herald reporter
http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/...i8217ll-have-to-live-with-rest-of-my-life8217 Sep 24, 2017 at 10:11 PM
ET’s first interview
ET: ‘It was an experience I’ll have to live with the rest of my life.’
ET’s first interview with anyone in the media came spontaneously and without hesitation Saturday evening in Columbia.
I was sitting in a fast-food restaurant when she walked in with two kids she was babysitting.......
ET told me she returned to Columbia permanently in July. She said she spent 78 days in therapy in Jackson after flying home to Tennessee with TBI agents April 21.
She told me she did not want to talk about Cummins’ case out of respect for her attorney, Columbia’s Jason Whatley.
“He’s reminded me about not saying anything about the criminal case to the media,” she said.
A juvenile court judge placed a gag order on parties involved in her case, including her lawyer and parents.
The rest of our conversation centered on her job, where she’s going to school and if she made a mistake by leaving town with Cummins.
Thomas gave permission to use her name in stories about her, even though newspapers rarely use juveniles’ identities if they’re involved in litigation.
She and I talked for about five minutes. Her answers were short and to the point:
Question: How do you feel about being back in Columbia? Are you happy and feeling well?
Answer: Yes. I’m pretty happy that I’m back with my brother.
Q: Where are you going to school?
A: I am home schooling, and my brother is tutoring me.
Q: What is your life like now? How would you describe your day-to-day activities?
A: I can’t really complain right now. I baby sit kids, and I work in Columbia. I am studying at home....
Q: You’re not living with your father and all of your siblings?
A: Not at the moment.
Q: Do you think issues with your father will work out?
A: It’s just safer to be back with my brother instead of in the middle of everything.
Q: Are you hoping to be emancipated and handle your own affairs?
A: Yes.
Q: How long have you been back in Columbia for good?
A: I came back and visited for a while. I came back permanently in July.
Q: At first you, you were in Jackson for several weeks?
A: Three months.
Q: Did that seem like a little too long? You were getting therapy?
A: Yes, it was way too long. I should not have been up there.
Q: Your sister told me you were going on “Dr. Phil.” Is that true?
A: There have been some rumors. Lots of stuff going around. It might happen. It might not happen. We’re all just joking about it right now.
Q: Do you regret having left town?
A: I don’t regret it, nor do I say it was the right thing to do. It was an experience I’ll have to live with the rest of my life. It’s good and bad. It’s there. No matter what we do, we’ll have to deal with it.
... more at link... including photos