AMBER ALERT TN - Summer Moon-Utah Wells, 5, Rogersville, 15 Jun 2021 Media Maps Timeline *NO DISCUSSION*

[Seattle1]

Terrain so rough, search for Summer Wells required repelling, machetes

July 1, 2021

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Half a dozen Knox County Rescue members were called to Hawkins County to search for missing Summer Wells, the five-year-old Rogersville girl.

The rescue squad joined hundreds of agencies that searched 3,000 acres over the past couple of weeks, but still no Summer.

“I would say this is a little out of the ordinary,” said John Duncan, a Knox County Rescue member.

The days have been long and hot but fresh sets of eyes make all the difference.

“It was...just thought I could help find her and bring her home,” said Bart Fremow, a Knox County Rescue member.

Fremow and Duncan’s first assignment was to clear a steep grid. There was such tough terrain at one point they used ropes to repel down the mountain cliff.

“It was exhausting at times,” said Fremow.

It took two to three hours to search and clear one mile of distance. They carefully used machetes to cut through brush and crawl through briars and thickets.

 

[Seattle1]

Summer Wells’ Dad Says He’s Haunted by Her Aunt’s Decade-Old Disappearance

July 1, 2021

More than a decade before 5-year-old Summer Wells seemingly vanished without a trace, her aunt also went missing—and was never found.

And now Summer’s dad says the disappearance of Rose Bly haunts him when he thinks about his daughter.

“When you see cases like that, that’s why I lose hope in Summer,” Donald Wells told WJHL. “I want to keep hope, but sometimes I just lose hope and I think, ‘Well, maybe we’ll never see her again.”

 

[rainynights]

The tip count with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as of Thursday afternoon stands at 750, TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland said via email.

Meanwhile, reward money sent to the Church Hill Rescue Squad has reached $37,350, Capt. Tim Coup of the squad said via email on Thursday.

[...]

The $37,350 includes $2,350 in an account at Civis Bank in Church Hill that the squad established, Coup said in the email.

[...]

Coup said in an email he will provide future updates on the reward funds “at least once if not twice a week” but that no balance updates would come from the bank.

[...]

Kingsport resident DPG gave a check for $25,000, first via the U.S. mail to the Kingsport Times News. He specified it was to be given to whom ever provides information leading to Summer, but if the money isn’t awarded in six months DPG asked that the check be given to the Hawkins County Child Advocacy Center.

TRW of Kingsport later added a check for $10,000, TRW said on Thursday, but without it being directed to the advocacy center if no one gets the reward.

[...]

Tips and reward fund grow for missing Summer Wells

 

[rainynights]

SUMMER WELLS #TNAMBERAlert UPDATE: Hawkins County
@SheriffLawson
statement: “Good Afternoon, Summer Wells has now been missing from her Beech Creek Resident for 17 days, there has been a tremendous amount of hours spent searching the area and investigating her disappearance..”

”with well over 750 tips, none has resulted in a solid lead. This case is still very active and intense, with everything possible being checked out by Hawkins County Detectives and Agents of the T.B.I.. Our goal is to find Summer!….”

“In the event, a break in this case develops, proper notifications will be sent out in due time.” Tips : 1-800-TBI-FIND

https://twitter.com/JoshSmithWJHL
https://twitter.com/JoshSmithWJHL/status/1411021664113106947

Sheriff: Despite hundreds of tips, no solid lead in search for 5-year-old Summer Wells | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather
Posted: Jul 2, 2021 / 02:08 PM EDT / Updated: Jul 2, 2021 / 02:08 PM EDT

HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson says none of the more than 750 tips regarding missing Rogersville 5-year-old Summer Wells have produced a real lead.

Lawson issued a statement on Friday, July 2, saying that 17 days had passed since Summer was reported missing from her home in the Beech Creek community.

According to Lawson, the case remains “very active and intense.” He stated Hawkins County detectives and agents of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are continuing to check every possible lead.

[...]

Search for Summer Wells remains, ‘active and intense,’ Hawkins Co. officials say

 

[rainynights]

Mental health expert discusses trauma surrounding disappearance of Summer Wells | WKRN News 2 (video at link)

[...]

News Channel 11 spoke with the senior vice president of children’s services with Frontier Health, Tim Perry, who said it’s normal that the family experiences feelings related to that of grief.

As for Summer’s three older brothers, Perry said the endless search could contribute to further stress and trauma.

“That presence of all these strangers, for the most part, and the complexities of all these individuals with difference activities is very confusing and very frightening and very anxiety-provoking on behalf of the children,” Perry said.

“They will experience fear, insecurity, anger — a lot of the same things you would experience in grief,” Perry said.

[...]

Mental health expert discusses trauma surrounding disappearance of Summer Wells | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather

Additional info worth noting in the article:

Another facet that can contribute to worsening mental health regarding the case includes the online rumors floating on social media. Perry said the negativity only adds to the problem.

Instead of continuing to speculate and spread rumors on social media, Perry advises that the community band together and support the Wells family as they process the trauma.

 

[rainynights]

Today marks three weeks since Summer Wells disappearance | wbir.com

Amber Alert: Search for 5-year-old Summer Wells enters third week

ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tuesday marks three weeks since 5-year-old Summer Wells disappeared from her Hawkins County home.

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/amber-alert-search-for-5-year-old-summer-wells-enters-third-week

#TNAMBERAlert: The investigation into the disappearance of Summer Wells remains active and ongoing. In order to preserve the integrity of the investigation, we're not able to provide specifics.

We continue to urge anyone with credible information to call 1-800-TBI-FIND. https://t.co/02tmvgf7oS

Just tweeted by the TBI.

Still looking for the truck.

As of 4 p.m. on Monday, the TBI had received 799 tips but none leading to the little girl.
Authorities are still looking for the driver of a red Toyota Tacoma that was in the Beech Creek community around the time Summer disappeared.
As of 4 p.m. on Monday, the TBI had received 799 tips but none leading to the little girl.
Authorities are still looking for the driver of a red Toyota Tacoma that was in the Beech Creek community around the time Summer disappeared.

This is from 3 hours ago on Anslee's Twitter. […]

https://twitter.com/Anslee_WJHL/status/1412437429617844237?s=20

 

[Seattle1]

Anslee Daniel WJHL
@Anslee_WJHL

Replying to
@Anslee_WJHL
The last Twitter update from the
@TBInvestigation
was on July 1 and included the photo collage in this post. "#TNAMBERAlert: Summer Wells has now been missing from the Beech Creek community in Hawkins County for two weeks and two days. We aren’t giving up...
8:45 AM · Jul 6, 2021

Replying to
@Anslee_WJHL
On July 2- Hawkins Co. Sheriff Ronnie Lawson sent a news release saying the case remains “very active and intense.” He stated Hawkins County detectives and agents of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are continuing to check every possible lead.

8:45 AM · Jul 6, 2021·

Replying to
@Anslee_WJHL
As of July 1, more than $37,000 was being offered as a reward for anyone who could provide information that led to Summer’s whereabouts. Search organizers announced on June 27 that after days of searching the area around Summer’s home, they were “scaling back” the search.

8:45 AM · Jul 6, 2021

Replying to
@Anslee_WJHL
For in-depth coverage on Summer Wells-



Search for Summer Wells
wjhl.com
8:45 AM · Jul 6, 2021

 

[oviedo]

 

[oviedo]

Stress from search for 5-year-old Summer Wells may follow crews home, expert warns | wbir.com
snipped
Published: 10:24 PM EDT July 6, 2021
Updated: 10:44 PM EDT July 6, 2021

HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. — As of July 6, three weeks have passed by since 5-year-old Summer Wells was reported missing in Hawkins County. A state-wide Amber alert was issued a day after she was reported missing.

And three weeks later, agents have said they are not giving up their search even though she has not been seen since June 15.

 

[rainynights]

July 6, 2021
Prayer circle held for Summer Wells three weeks after her disappearance; no new information from authorities

Prayer circle held for Summer Wells three weeks after her disappearance; no new information from auth

Tennessee missing 5-year-old Summer Wells: Investigators probe over 800 tips in 3 weeks since disappearance | Fox News

July 7, 2021

Several members of missing Summer Wells’ family attended a televised prayer circle for the missing 5-year-old girl, but Summer’s father Don Wells was absent.

Summer Wells’ father does not attend family prayer circle for missing 5-year-old

 

[rainynights]

Her NamUs profile – created July 7, 2021

I’m not sure if this has been posted to Summer’s thread, but noticed it was added to NamUs on 07.07.21.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
View attachment 303849
Summer Moon Utah Wells

NamUs profile created: July 7, 2021
Last seen: June 15, 2021

Circumstances of Disappearance
Summer Moon-Utah Wells was last seen on June 15th, 2021 at or near her home in Rogersville, Tennessee. At this time, the circumstances of Summer’s disappearance remain unclear. Law Enforcement has not announced any determination of whether Summer wandered off, was abducted and/or the victim of foul play. No suspects have been named in her case.

 

[Seattle1]

Anslee Daniel WJHL
@Anslee_WJHL

Since her disappearance, Summer Wells has touched the lives of many in the community and beyond the Tri-Cities. One man in Kingsport organized a prayer circle for the little girl and her family.



Prayer circle held for Summer Wells three weeks after her disappearance; no new information from...
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Tuesday marks three weeks since five-year-old Summer Wells was reported missing from her home in the Beech Creek community of Hawkins County. The Tennessee Bureau of Inves…
wjhl.com

5:06 PM · Jul 6, 2021

 

[rainynights]

'Can that happen to me?': Hawkins schools prepare for student, parental anxiety over Summer Wells disappearance

ROGERSVILLE — Hawkins County Schools child psychologist Carole Fuller is hoping resources about child safety and anxiety will help parents and students better cope with the Summer Wells disappearance.

This week Fuller shared with the Times News some of the information that will be made available to parents and/or children when the school year begins next month.

[…]

Hawkins school psychologist offers tips for talking to your child about abduction, anxiety

(Tips and resources about child safety, talking to your child about abduction, and anxiety, at link)

 

[rainynights]

July 8, 2021

https://twitter.com/TBInvestigation/status/1413193386916556800?s=20

The investigation into the disappearance of Summer Wells remains active and ongoing. Please continue to follow this thread for additional information. We are also posting updates - when available - on http://TBINewsroom.com.

An update from the TBI:

UPDATED 7/8/21 at 1:45 p.m. (ET) – To date, we’ve received more than 870 tips in the search for 5-year-old Summer Wells. The investigation remains active and ongoing, as TBI agents and detectives with the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office continue to work alongside the FBI in an effort to determine what happened to Summer. Residents who live in the Beech Creek Community near Ben Hill Road are urged to contact us with information if they haven’t done so already. We also ask property owners in that area to call 1-800-TBI-FIND if they have surveillance or trail cameras that haven’t yet been reported to or reviewed by authorities. The smallest detail could prove beneficial to the investigation.

AMBER Alert – Summer Wells

 

[rainynights]

Tip count surpasses 870 as Search for Summer Wells ‘remains active and ongoing’ | CBS 17
Posted: Jul 8, 2021 / 04:18 PM EDT / Updated: Jul 8, 2021 / 04:19 PM EDT

HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation provided its first update in the search for missing Tennessee 5-year-old Summer Wells since July 1.

According to a release from the TBI, more than 870 tips have been received, as of Thursday.

The release states that the search for Summer “remains active and ongoing, as TBI agents and detectives with the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office continue to work alongside the FBI in an effort to determine what happened to Summer.”

[…]

 

[rainynights]

Former investigator weighs in on Summer Wells case | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather
Posted: Jul 8, 2021 / 06:50 PM EDT / Updated: Jul 8, 2021 / 06:56 PM EDT

[…]

Former Bristol, Tennessee investigator Deb Richmond spent almost 30 years working on investigations, some dealing with child abuse and sexual abuse.

As each day passes, it is more alarming that she may not come home safely,” Richmond said. “But, there have been children found over the years, many many children found over those years that have come home safely.”

[…]

“If they’re not letting information out to the public, it may be, and I’m just saying this from experience, it may be because they have some good leads that they can’t afford to for the public to be involved in,” Richmond said.

[…]

 

[rainynights]

From family members to investigators, here’s a look at some of the people in Summer’s story so far in the search for the five-year-old Rogersville girl as the investigation into her disappearance continues.

Summer Wells: Who’s who in missing TN girl’s AMBER Alert case

 

[rainynights]

The Rogersville Review | July 8, 2021

"She went missing from her home after she left her mother and grandmother gardening in the yard and reportedly went to the basement of her home to play. There are conflicting reports about whether the basement outside door was locked, but her mother Candus Wells has insisted her daughter knew better than to wander off in the heavily wooded, isolated area.

“I feel confident she’s not on the property anywhere around the residence after we’ve conducted multiple searches,” Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson said Thursday. “We have searched everything inside and outside the house and used multiple canines.”

Lawson said his office is continuing to follow up on tips as they come in, but that most have proved unfounded so far.

“Our search continues to be very intense and ongoing,” he said.

Family members have not responded to requests for interviews by The Rogersville Review.

Since Summer’s disappearance, teams have searched approximately 3,000 acres, including air searches and checks of ponds and creeks. More than 100 agencies from throughout the Southeast have assisted search efforts, but the command post has been removed."

Authorities continue to investigate child's disappearance

WJHL | Video

TBI: Tip count surpasses 870 as Search for Summer Wells ‘remains active and ongoing’ – WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather

Still seeking the red Tacoma, according to this, published 1 hour ago.

 

[rainynights]

JUST IN: Rumors have been circulating on social media that investigators have a suspect connected to the disappearance of Summer Wells. @SheriffLawson tells me there is no such person of interest @WJHL11 @ABCTriCities
https://twitter.com/biancawjhl/status/1413533092015448068?s=21

The Hawkins Co Sheriff says social media rumors are being checked by law enforcement but urges those who live within a 5-mile radius of the Beech Creek community to come forward with any credible tips they may have as this is now an investigation into any possibility @WJHL11

[…]

https://twitter.com/biancawjhl/status/1413580210377736192?s=21

Hawkins Co. Sheriff says no person of interest has been identified in case of missing Summer Wells | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather
Posted: Jul 9, 2021 / 04:20 PM EDT / Updated: Jul 9, 2021 / 04:22 PM EDT

[…]

“There’s no person of interest,” Lawson said. “And like I said, everybody’s a suspect now, everything’s on the table, and our main focus is to find Summer, to bring her home. Whichever way it goes with a suspect or she’s lost in the woods, or whatever, been abducted whatever, everything’s on the table. We’re not just focusing on one thing, because we have no reason to.”

TBI Public Information Officer Leslie Earhart said that as of Friday, just over 900 tips had been received in the search for Summer.

[…]

“In my position, and my detectives everywhere, everybody wants to share their opinion, which we understand that, but 99.9 percent of things that people are posting are saying, we’ve already looked into and taken care of,” Lawson said. “But we still want people to look on their property in the Beech Creek community because I think with all the searchers we’ve had, the many people, I don’t think we’ve missed anything. But we’re not counting out there’s still a need to search their own property.”

[…]

Throughout the search for Summer, investigators have asked community members in the area of the Wells’ home to check their cameras and property for any sign of her or anything suspicious. Lawson elaborated on just what constitutes as the working area in the Beech Creek community.

“Within a five or six-mile radius, if they live there,” Lawson said. He also says anyone who may have traveled through the area around June 15 when Summer went missing is encouraged to call with any detail no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. “Sometimes people will think, ‘Well, I saw that but it probably wouldn’t mean anything.’ But the least little thing, to us might be something huge, where it wouldn’t mean anything to the public. So that’s why we ask the public, everything they see to check their property and other outbuildings and things like that.”

Investigators are also searching for the driver of a red or maroon Toyota Tacoma pickup truck that could be a “potential witness” in the case. […]

“The biggest thing is the ladder racks and the white buckets means that they do some kind of work,” Lawson said. “And that vehicle was seen in the area sometime during her disappearance, and we’re just wondering if they saw something, they may hold that piece I was talking about earlier that would blow this thing wide open, let us know where Summer is, if they saw something.”

Lawson also said the truck is the only one of hundreds that investigators haven’t been able to find in relation to gathering information in the case. According to Lawson, the license plate of the truck is not known at this time.

[…]

(more at link)

 

[rainynights]

July 8, 2021

ROGERSVILLE — One thing police and rescuers don’t want to think about while they’re looking for a missing child is how much the search operation is going to cost.

But eventually that issue will have to be addressed, as members of the Hawkins County Commission’s Budget Committee pointed out at Wednesday’s meeting.
View attachment 304150
On June 22 investigators conducted a roadblock canvass, speaking with drivers who travel through the Beech Creek area often to see if they noticed anything out of the ordinary on June 15, the day Summer Wells went missing.

Jeff Bobo — jbobo@timesnews.net

Sheriff Ronnie Lawson and Chief Deputy Tony Allen were asked about the financial impact of the 13-day search operation for missing 5-year-old Summer Wells, as well as the ongoing investigation.

Allen told the Budget Committee on Wednesday that he’s expecting a big overtime bill.

“It will hit us pretty hard, but we’ll do what we’ve got to do to work through it,” Allen said. “It won’t be comp time. It will be paid out. It’s just one of those things that you can’t plan on.”

Allen added, “That’s why we need a little bit extra (set aside in the budget). I haven’t got my budget analysis done on it yet of what the cost is because we’re still working the case. We’re boots on the ground still, and it might be three months before I can do a cost.”

Watch now: Financial impact of Summer Wells search will hit Hawkins sheriff, rescue agencies

View attachment 304150

Published July 9, 2021

Hawkins Co. Sheriff says no person of interest has been identified in case of missing Summer Wells