Found Safe TN - Mary Catherine Elizabeth Thomas, 15, Maury County, 13 March 2017 #8

[JerseyGirl]

A vigil will be at 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 2 in the Columbia town square near the courthouse. All are invited.

http://whnt.com/2017/03/29/friend-of-elizabeth-thomas-fights-to-keep-story-in-public-eye/

 

[Elle*Bee]

Not sure why some commenters care if she wanted to leave permanently or not. There have been some who said she wanted to go back home from shoney's but couldn't
. Anyways, if I had a 15 year old teen I wouldn't care if she left willingly or not. She's in grave danger either way.

Just a thought : If she was planning on leaving with him (and thus packed accordingly), then there's a fair chance that if she keeps her wits about her, that she'll be safe from physical harm. At least until/if she decides she wants to return home. On the other hand, if she had no intention of leaving with him, she could be even more frightened and her unwillingness could potentially set him off (risk of physical injury greater). There's so much conflicting info, though, to know for sure her state of mind (the email drafts, the packing of her bags, the asking her friend to bring her back home, the telling her sister to call the police if she's not back at a certain time...)

I don't think anyone here is suggesting that even if she packed her bags and went willingly that she's any less a victim. Imho.

 

[KKearns]

If she wanted to leave voluntarily, it could be safer for her. For one, TC wouldn't be so worried about her and as controlling. Then if she had enough it might be easier for her to get help since TC wasn't worried about her trying to leave.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[Friedgreentomatoes]

Sorry if this is a repeat. The reward has been upped.

http://www.newschannel5.com/news/amber-alert-reward-increased-to-10k

 

[Mountain_Kat]

Not sure why some commenters care if she wanted to leave permanently or not. There have been some who said she wanted to go back home from shoney's but couldn't. Anyways, if I had a 15 year old teen I wouldn't care if she left willingly or not. She's in grave danger either way.

Speaking soley for me, I care because whether she is found safely might very well depend on whether or not she is went with him (or is still with him) willingly. And actually finding her might depend on being able to determine if she is there because she wants to be, or whether she is looking for a way to leave. It's an important element in finding her and bringing her home safely, imo.

 

[Irishboy]

The sister said she got in trouble for losing multiple keys, so she started hiding them around the house so she wouldn't get into trouble again.

Man she was under a lot of pressure for losing a stupid key. Wow

 

[indianwin2001]

It is being said that the friend who drove ET to Shoney's has gotten a different car since. Does anyone know if this is true?

I don't think we can comment on this. The mods sent a warning about the TOS and we don't want this thread locked.

 

[Deleted member 172065]

Speaking soley for me, I care because whether she is found safely might very well depend on whether or not she is went with him (or is still with him) willingly. And actually finding her might depend on being able to determine if she is there because she wants to be, or whether she is looking for a way to leave. It's an important element in finding her and bringing her home safely, imo.

She will eventually want to leave him. Police said she's in grave danger at this point.

 

[Heavenlystars]

I don't think we can comment on this. The mods sent a warning about the TOS and we don't want this thread locked.

Okay, I deleted it

 

[JerseyGirl]

A quote from ET's father's lawyer that I haven't seen before:

During school hours, Elizabeth dealt with other kids calling her vicious names, such as “sl**” and “wh***,” likely because in their minds, she got the “cool teacher” in trouble. According to the father’s attorney, even staff members reportedly joined in, allegedly calling the young girl, words to the effect a “tramp.”

“The picture we’re getting from these students is there began to be a lot of students who took the side of Tad Cummins in the alleged kissing incident. And the cryptic, strange response was to ridicule her for being a sl** and a who** and this and that. And those are the kid of words, the exact words, we were told were used. And unfortunately, allegedly – this is all allegations we haven’t confirmed – but there were also similar statements, according to these sources, overheard from some teachers talking about this incident where words along those lines were used,” Whatley said.

“Let’s be clear. We don’t know which teachers. We haven’t confirmed. I know a lot of these teachers and we pray that’s not true. But that’s the report coming out. The report is also that Elizabeth heard some of these comments,” Whatley said.

“We didn’t know firsthand the nature of what was being said. That’s coming from students,” he said.

http://www.crimeonline.com/2017/03/...-girl-elizabeth-thomas-for-her-own-abduction/

 

[Irishboy]

This is what scares me. Unless he has the right meds (and those are not a guarantee) he won't be able to handle it himself. Anaphylaxis is not something I would feel TC would have the training or medical support to deal with at all. My daughter has an epi and severe temp change allergy, cold uticaria. It is really scary to see those hives turn into huge connected and growing welts. If the airway is involved, time is crucial and it is an emergency. If the epi fails, time is even more limited and it is 911, paramedics and a hospital ASAP for skilled intervention. TC is no doctor and a full fledged anaphylaxtic attack is not your run of the mill respiratory therapy duties. This really, really worries me.

Agree was thinking this and you said it better than me

 

[Mountain_Kat]

She will eventually want to leave him. Police said she's in grave danger at this point.

Of course she's in grave danger, she is a 15 year old child with a clearly unbalanced, 50 year old man, who just happens to be armed.

Where's the debate?

 

[JerseyGirl]

The attorney continues:

Cummins, a master manipulator, created such chaos in the 15-year-old’s mind that she’s basically under his spell.

“Think about the irony here. he creates this situation and then serves as the savior to take her away. It’s mind boggling to think it could work that way, but it’s exactly what happened,” Whatley said.

“He has overcome her ability to say no. He’s a master manipulator. This is a man. A dangerous man who knew exactly what he was doing,” Whatley added.

http://www.crimeonline.com/2017/03/...-girl-elizabeth-thomas-for-her-own-abduction/

 

[Deleted member 172065]

Cummins is 50 years old
Cummins married his wife in 1985
Cummins told students he was a millionaire and a CIA operative that traveled on secret missions
On January 23 a female schoolmate saw TC kiss ET on the lips in the classroom with TC's grandchild in the room
January 24th the female student confronted TC about the kiss. TC told the student he was a father figure to ET and she was a "close and best friend".
January 30th school concluded investigation, found no evidence since both ET and TC denied the kiss but ET was removed from class.
January 31 ET's father found out about kiss from Sheriff who was investigating the issue.
February 3 TC is reprimanded for having ET in his room. Another teacher said she was in the classroom for over 30mins.
"The teacher would later be reprimanded on Feb. 3 by school principal Penny Love after the girl was seen in Cummins classroom for a little more than half an hour that day. In her letter, Love said the girl being in his classroom was a violation of the principal’s order to him."
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tad-cum...ported-kissing-missing-girl-elizabeth-thomas/

February 6 TC is suspended for insubordination
March 13 ET tells her sister to call 911 if she isn't home by 6pm
http://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-al...ry?id=46273578
Other details:
School never informed ET's father of inappropriate contact or of any investigation
http://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-al...ry?id=46273578
ET was dropped off by friend at Shoney's on March 13th, ET asked friend to instead take her back home, friend refused.
Friend who dropped ET off is not cooperating with LE

"Employees at the Shoney's in Columbia said Thomas was waiting with her bags inside the restaurant on March 13. They said when Tad Cummins pulled up, the teen ran outside leaving her back pack behind."
http://whnt.com/2017/03/24/da-elizab...dissapearance/

School and students refuse to wear green ribbons in support of ET and ET has been called a harlot (per Sister)

TC has two guns (unknown what type) "Authorities say he is armed with two handguns"
http://www.9news.com/news/crime/statewide-endangered-child-alert-issued-for-missing-teen/423257704

ET's phone pinged in Decatur AL March 13 at 3:06pm "A spokesperson for the Decatur, Alabama, police told ABC News by phone that Elizabeth had not been physically seen in or around Decatur and that reports of their whereabouts may have been attributed to a ping from the girl’s cell phone."
http://krvn.com/abc_national/timeli...essee-student-elizabeth-thomas-abcid35882433/

ET was originally reported as a runaway, although her father early on maintained she had been abducted by TC
TC's wife reported him missing.

LE concluded 24 hours after both reported missing that TC and ET were together, so they had a 24 headstart before the Amber Alert was issued. "Thomas, a 15-year-old from Middle Tennessee, disappeared with her ex-teacher, 50-year-old Tad Cummins, on March 13. There have been no confirmed sightings since that day and an Amber Alert was issued the next day"
http://www.9news.com/news/crime/statewide-endangered-child-alert-issued-for-missing-teen/423257704

Amber Alert has not been issued nationwide.

LE believe they may be in Mexico or Central America posing as missionaries

TC took a loan for 4,500. "TBI said Cummins secured a title loan for a personal vehicle and other personal effects several days before his disappearance, netting $4,500 in cash."
http://fox17.com/news/local/tbi-rele...izabeth-thomas

TC searched teen marriages " Cummins researched 'teen marriage' just a few days before he and Elizabeth disappeared. "
http://www.9news.com/news/crime/statewide-endangered-child-alert-issued-for-missing-teen/423257704

TC searched disabling GPS on automobile "Cummins also searched whether police could track his car, a Nissan Rogue, according to TBI."
http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2017/03/amber_alert_elizabeth_thomas_a.html

TC took Nissan Rogue, leaving wife with his Jeep which she is unable to drive

TC told his wife on the morning he disappeared he was going out for a job interview.

TC has an associates degree, was a respiratory therapist, taught forensics, had an alternative certification to teach

TC's former colleague states TC was a bully and narcissist

TC's former colleague is offering a 5,000 reward

LE is offering a 1,000 reward

There have been no credible sightings of TC or ET since March 13

ET left a bag behind at Shoney's, but it was later gone. The story goes that it was left outside and picked up by someone.
Shoney's had no working surveillance camera (per Sister) and ""We believe for one reason or another she left one of these bags behind and it disappeared later that day," said DA Brent Cooper.Cooper said someone either took the bag or Elizabeth may have come back for it" http://whnt.com/2017/03/24/da-elizab...dissapearance/

ET has wheat and tomato allergies and needs an epi pen.(per Sister)

ET took her sister's bathing suit with her (per Sister)

ET hid from TC when he tried to see her at work. "One of Thomas family lawyers told WKRN that, at some point before the March 13 disappearance, Cummins came into Elizabeth's work place. The teen hid in a bathroom and urged a co-worker to tell the teacher that she wasn't there." http://patch.com/tennessee/nashville...ns-family-says (this was also confirmed by Sister)

ET had been taken from her mother's custody and her father has custody of her. ET had formerly been homeschooled, was a freshman in high school and had just started public school. TC was her teacher. ET's mother was charged with abuse and lost custody.
ET's mother gave an interview.

TC was looking for work in Decatur

TC and ET may have stayed in a motel in Decatur the first night

TC watched shows about living off the grid "Investigators also tell CBS News that Cummins appears to have been planning this for some time by watching survivalist shows."
http://www.ktvq.com/story/34952463/manhunt-intensifies-for-missing-teacher-student

TC has no criminal record in the state of TN. "Cummins has no criminal record in the state of Tennessee."
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/34935506/teacher-student-posted-on-social-media-on-day-they-went-missing

I'll be editing this post with sources and such, but is there anything I missed?

Destany Parrish is a former student who TC may have groomed prior to ET, made alone time for the two of them and sang her a love song he'd written. He told us all one day that the office had gotten on to him and that we all had to go back to the lunch room because that's where we're supposed to be anyway," Parrish recalled. "Everybody left and I got my bag and got ready to leave, and he said the office hadn't said anything to him, he just didn't want that many kids in his room. It just ended up being he and I chilling in there. I would go there after school.”
Parrish said she would go to Cummins’ room after school and he would often take her to services at the Destiny Church in Columbia Parrish was 15 at the time, in 2011 she was his student.
http://www.wsmv.com/story/34977042/t...p-with-teacher

"One day, Parrish said Cummins arranged for them to be alone and he sang the lyrics he had written.
One of the lyrics read, "I could swim for a thousand miles in the oceans inside your eyes and never reach the side."
"It was just me and tad. We were in the music room. It was right next to his classroom, and I had learned a new song on the piano," said Parrish. "I was gonna go show him, but he sat down first and played that song, and I started recording a little bit in.
When asked if she felt the song was for her, Parrish said she didn't assume, but looking back, things seem different."
http://www.newschannel5.com/news/for...er-a-love-song

Interview with Thomas family attorneys by Nancy Grace: https://www.podcastchart.com/podcast...-at-school/pop

For those who missed out, here are the most comprehensive fact.

 

[indianwin2001]

A quote from ET's father's lawyer that I haven't seen before:

During school hours, Elizabeth dealt with other kids calling her vicious names, such as “sl**” and “wh***,” likely because in their minds, she got the “cool teacher” in trouble. According to the father’s attorney, even staff members reportedly joined in, allegedly calling the young girl, words to the effect a “tramp.”

“The picture we’re getting from these students is there began to be a lot of students who took the side of Tad Cummins in the alleged kissing incident. And the cryptic, strange response was to ridicule her for being a sl** and a who** and this and that. And those are the kid of words, the exact words, we were told were used. And unfortunately, allegedly – this is all allegations we haven’t confirmed – but there were also similar statements, according to these sources, overheard from some teachers talking about this incident where words along those lines were used,” Whatley said.

“Let’s be clear. We don’t know which teachers. We haven’t confirmed. I know a lot of these teachers and we pray that’s not true. But that’s the report coming out. The report is also that Elizabeth heard some of these comments,” Whatley said.

“We didn’t know firsthand the nature of what was being said. That’s coming from students,” he said.

http://www.crimeonline.com/2017/03/...-girl-elizabeth-thomas-for-her-own-abduction/

Wow--So with him being a popular teacher and his wife being on the school board,the students sided with TC. I can understand the kids view,but the staff should have known better after the kiss was reported. At least investigate it properly before coming to judgement. A lot I have read about this town doesn't add up to me. Teachers and the scholl board members are supposed to be professionals and it appears the adults acted like teenagers themselves.

 

[Mountain_Kat]

A quote from ET's father's lawyer that I haven't seen before:

During school hours, Elizabeth dealt with other kids calling her vicious names, such as “sl**” and “wh***,” likely because in their minds, she got the “cool teacher” in trouble. According to the father’s attorney, even staff members reportedly joined in, allegedly calling the young girl, words to the effect a “tramp.”

“The picture we’re getting from these students is there began to be a lot of students who took the side of Tad Cummins in the alleged kissing incident. And the cryptic, strange response was to ridicule her for being a sl** and a who** and this and that. And those are the kid of words, the exact words, we were told were used. And unfortunately, allegedly – this is all allegations we haven’t confirmed – but there were also similar statements, according to these sources, overheard from some teachers talking about this incident where words along those lines were used,” Whatley said.

“Let’s be clear. We don’t know which teachers. We haven’t confirmed. I know a lot of these teachers and we pray that’s not true. But that’s the report coming out. The report is also that Elizabeth heard some of these comments,” Whatley said.

“We didn’t know firsthand the nature of what was being said. That’s coming from students,” he said.

http://www.crimeonline.com/2017/03/...-girl-elizabeth-thomas-for-her-own-abduction/

BBM

Well, that's clear as mud, isn't it ? By "report" does he mean the school report, something kids told him, what ? He's an attorney for cripes sake, you'd think he could strive for a bit more clarity when making public statements. And none of this is confirmed? Then why throw it out there ? How is THAT helpful ?

JMO

 

[possumheart]

Yet when I was a kid there was a popular ABBA song "When I Kissed the Teacher". Cummins would know it unless he lived under a rock.

 

[Deleted member 172065]

Of course she's in grave danger, she is a 15 year old child with a clearly unbalanced, 50 year old man, who just happens to be armed.

Where's the debate?

When people keep insisting that they want to know if she was willing to go on this 'adventure' or not, it does sound like victim blaming. We all know they had a relationship of some sort. We know she wasn't dragged into the car. And there is no way to know exactly what she was thinking when she was preparing to go with him, or what she thought when she got into his car, and we don't know what she's thinking now. All we can know is she is in danger. Her thinking processes are going to probably be very conflicted, anyways. Teens are often not very logical.

 

[Bravo]

The Epi Pen wasn't for asthma. Epi pens are for anaphylaxis. Her doctor thought with how bad her reactions were getting to eating the food her chances of anaphylaxis was high. Doctors don't give Epipens out for fun.

Agree. And that is exactly why they are prescribed. Not for simple allergy symptoms. Given to those who have potential for anaphylactic or those who have experienced it. Anaplastic is life threatening and requires ER intervention after the injection. Your airway is cut off.

 

[Irishboy]

Most of us have grandkids or kids right? Or teens at one time or another. Some commenters want to know if she wanted to leave permanently or not. It doesn't matter, whatsoever, which way she left. If you leave with an armed 50 year old man, you're in danger either way. The police have stated that. I agree.

True. No one is accepting that a 15 yo leaving with a 50 yo under any circumstances is right,
That said all of the statements leading up to the event have to be evaluated if they are true, plausible, or false. Comments are just comments, opinions (I mark mine as such) are informed opinions. Actions speak louder than words. It was reported (by family) what she took with her and what she left. The statements, including that she asked to return home, are only from the driving "friend" whose stories are changing and called into question. That's it, unless someone else was present. that would have had to occur between ET and the "friend" in the car and no one else present, right?

I do want to know how it is known what she was taking with her? Did the family present in the house then know what was packed?