AMBER ALERT TN - Summer Moon-Utah Wells, 5, Rogersville, 15 Jun 2021 #33

[Kittybunny]

In two days, Summer will have been missing for 9 months. LE has been back out to search for her several times since the initial massive search that ensued within hours of her disappearance. This is common and responsible on the part of LE/SAR, due to weather and changing environmental and topographical conditions.
This is not a case of a child being reported missing days or weeks or even months after last being seen. Summer was last seen within 0-3 hrs of her disappearance, and she was last seen at her home in a rural area of East Tennessee.
We have been given little from LE to go on, minus a (still) unidentified red/maroon pick-up truck seen in the area, possibly at or around the day/time of Summer's disappearance. Reminder: this vehicle was witnessed by a trusted source to LE.
The three remaining children in the home have been placed in DSS custody, one parent is in jail for 6 months, and the other parent remains at the family home with some company from her own mother, who was also present at the time of Summer's disappearance. A mother who is also the parent of a missing (grown) daughter, unrelated to Summer's disappearance, and who is the sister of CW. Folks, this is one heck of a painful situation ALL AROUND.
Rather than try and dissect the enormously painful dissolution of a family, I'd rather take a second, third, fourth, twentieth look at the surrounding physical area- including extending out of the initial search grids.
What if this (unknown) vehicle is responsible for transporting Summer away from the area? What routes could it have traveled, how soon could it have hit interstates? How much time- in minutes- would it have been? Is it likely to be a vehicle driven by someone local to the area, or a transient? Do the ladder racks indicate a tradesperson, and if so, what kind and where? Beech Creek, Ben Hill, the holler, over the mountain? Is this sort of vehicle capable of off road travel? What is the cab like? Would a child be easily restrained in the cab?
Now back to the original search area, in the event Summer wandered from the home. What might SAR be missing when it comes to searching and re-searching areas of interest? The terrain is exceedingly difficult and Summer is a small child. Are there other/alternate tools or techniques that SAR could be utilizing to locate anything of interest? Let's brainstorm a bit, maybe even google. Share some ideas, think of this as a blank slate. Sometimes answers are right in front of us, we just need to clear the noise. Any interest in this approach appreciated. TIA, all.

I agree! I wish I had more to offer other than extending the search area much farther than presumed. How far could a sure footed brave tiny little sprite like Summer get? Far I think, and maybe on paths and in ways that a big human never could.

I'm sure this is a dumb idea and impossible for many reasons... but could they take one of Summers brothers out there and say..."pretend you were mad and wanted to run away from home and hide? Which way would you go? Where would you hide?"

It's just heartbreaking. Without finding Summer, there is no hope to find the truth, regardless of what each of us believes it to be.

 

[rosesfromangels]

I agree! I wish I had more to offer other than extending the search area much farther than presumed. How far could a sure footed brave tiny little sprite like Summer get? Far I think, and maybe on paths and in ways that a big human never could.

I'm sure this is a dumb idea and impossible for many reasons... but could they take one of Summers brothers out there and say..."pretend you were mad and wanted to run away from home and hide? Which way would you go? Where would you hide?"

It's just heartbreaking. Without finding Summer, there is no hope to find the truth, regardless of what each of us believes it to be.

I think that is actually a great idea Kittybunny. The boys know where all the hidey holes are. I still maintain little SW took off on her own and got injured, yet to be found. I believe she is hidden on a secondary surface (e.g. slipped down between rocks, etc.) The terrain is just so dense it would be very easy to miss her in a search, regardless of the tools used. Broken record me, I suggest a "secondary surface" search....close, very close to the house.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[AgeofAquaruis]

In two days, Summer will have been missing for 9 months. LE has been back out to search for her several times since the initial massive search that ensued within hours of her disappearance. This is common and responsible on the part of LE/SAR, due to weather and changing environmental and topographical conditions.
This is not a case of a child being reported missing days or weeks or even months after last being seen. Summer was last seen within 0-3 hrs of her disappearance, and she was last seen at her home in a rural area of East Tennessee.
We have been given little from LE to go on, minus a (still) unidentified red/maroon pick-up truck seen in the area, possibly at or around the day/time of Summer's disappearance. Reminder: this vehicle was witnessed by a trusted source to LE.
The three remaining children in the home have been placed in DSS custody, one parent is in jail for 6 months (charges unrelated to Summers' disappearance), and the other parent remains at the family home with some company from her own mother, who was also present at the time of Summer's disappearance. A mother who is also the parent of a missing (grown) daughter (unrelated to Summer's disappearance) and who is the sister of CW. Folks, this is one heck of a painful situation ALL AROUND.
Rather than try and dissect the enormously painful dissolution of a family, I'd rather take a second, third, fourth, twentieth look at the surrounding physical area- including extending out of the initial search grids.
What if this (unknown) vehicle is responsible for transporting Summer away from the area? What routes could it have traveled, how soon could it have hit interstates? How much time- in minutes- would it have been? Is it likely to be a vehicle driven by someone local to the area, or a transient? Do the ladder racks indicate a tradesperson, and if so, what kind and where? Beech Creek, Ben Hill, the holler, over the mountain? Is this sort of vehicle capable of off road travel? What is the cab like? Would a child be easily restrained in the cab?
Now back to the original search area, in the event Summer wandered from the home. What might SAR be missing when it comes to searching and re-searching areas of interest? The terrain is exceedingly difficult and Summer is a small child. Are there other/alternate tools or techniques that SAR could be utilizing to locate anything of interest? Let's brainstorm a bit, maybe even google. Share some ideas, think of this as a blank slate. Sometimes answers are right in front of us, we just need to clear the noise. Any interest in this approach appreciated. TIA, all.

I know dry wallers are one kind of tradesperson that could utilize such a truck. With a full bed ladder rack,and white buckets. I think maybe cowboys,or ranchers would need ladders,and buckets too for cleaning barns,lofts,and stables. MOO

 

[CSIDreamer]

I still wonder about the tree trimming on the lines. I cannot remember if we discussed if they clean up the area since it's wooded? If not, could she be under that brush? Jmo

 

[Oriah]

I would assume Summer's brothers would have been forensically interviewed at this point, and we can hope questions like kittybunny's would have been thoroughly investigated. Good thought kittybunny! Children are not typically used on the ground of course (for obvious reasons) although we will recall that one of the first things CW did was tell the boys to go back down and through some of those areas together. That was an area reported initially as down by the creek.

 

[Oriah]

I still wonder about the tree trimming on the lines. I cannot remember if we discussed if they clean up the area since it's wooded? If not, could she be under that brush? Jmo

Good thought, CSIDreamer. I do not think that was determined. Based only on my own experience with DPW crews and off-road clearing, I would doubt they thoroughly cleaned up the area. There was probably an added layer of cut brush/trees etc, adding to the ground cover?

 

[crussell821]

I think that is actually a great idea Kittybunny. The boys know where all the hidey holes are. I still maintain little SW took off on her own and got injured, yet to be found. I believe she is hidden on a secondary surface (e.g. slipped down between rocks, etc.) The terrain is just so dense it would be very easy to miss her in a search, regardless of the tools used. Broken record me, I suggest a "secondary surface" search....close, very close to the house.

Amateur opinion and speculation

I believe this is what happened too. There is lots of talk of Summer being an outdoorsy, country girl, comfortable with wandering perhaps. Maybe she saw a rabbit or another animal, decided to follow it, and realized she had not paid attention while walking and had gotten lost. If she had then gotten injured or fallen into any number of small places not easily detectable she could just still be out there, waiting to be found.
I bring up the ‘animal following’ thought because I remember being 8 years old and camping with my family. I saw a squirrel and thought it was cute, and followed it into the woods from our site. After it disappeared I realized I was lost and didn’t know where I was. Thankfully, I hadn’t wandered far and heard my mom calling me, but I shudder to think what could have happened if I had gone deeper into the woods.
MOO

 

[CSIDreamer]

I would assume Summer's brothers would have been forensically interviewed at this point, and we can hope questions like kittybunny's would have been thoroughly investigated. Good thought kittybunny! Children are not typically used on the ground of course (for obvious reasons) although we will recall that one of the first things CW did was tell the boys to go back down and through some of those areas together. That was an area reported initially as down by the creek.

Which points to CW thinking she might have gone there. JMO

 

[Oriah]

Which points to CW thinking she might have gone there. JMO

Right. I would also think good chance the children played down there regularly, and were aware that it was considered a semi-dangerous area. Citing CW's caution that they could go down there if they had their buck knives with them. I wonder if that was one of the reasons why initially it was thought Summer might be shoe-less? She seems to like water, and being barefoot. Maybe she even said something to someone about the creek but it didn't really register until later on.

 

[Ravenmoon]

In two days, Summer will have been missing for 9 months. LE has been back out to search for her several times since the initial massive search that ensued within hours of her disappearance. This is common and responsible on the part of LE/SAR, due to weather and changing environmental and topographical conditions.
This is not a case of a child being reported missing days or weeks or months after last being seen. Summer was last seen within 0-3 hrs of her disappearance, and she was last seen at her home in a rural area of East Tennessee.
We have been given little from LE to go on, minus a (still) unidentified red/maroon pick-up truck seen in the area, possibly at or around the day/time of Summer's disappearance. Reminder: this vehicle was witnessed by a trusted source to LE.
The three remaining children in the home have been placed in DSS custody, one parent is in jail for 6 months (charges unrelated to Summers' disappearance), and the other parent remains at the family home with some company from her own mother, who was also present at the time of Summer's disappearance. A mother who is also the parent of a missing (grown) daughter (unrelated to Summer's disappearance) and who is the sister of CW. Folks, this is one heck of a painful situation ALL AROUND.
Rather than try and dissect the enormously painful dissolution of a family, I'd rather take a second, third, fourth, twentieth look at the surrounding physical area- including extending out of the initial search grids.
What if this (unknown) vehicle is responsible for transporting Summer away from the area? What routes could it have traveled, how soon could it have hit interstates? How much time- in minutes- would it have been? Is it likely to be a vehicle driven by someone local to the area, or a transient? Do the ladder racks indicate a tradesperson, and if so, what kind and where? Beech Creek, Ben Hill, the holler, over the mountain? Is this sort of vehicle capable of off road travel? What is the cab like? Would a child be easily restrained in the cab?
Now back to the original search area, in the event Summer wandered from the home. What might SAR be missing when it comes to searching and re-searching areas of interest? The terrain is exceedingly difficult and Summer is a small child. Are there other/alternate tools or techniques that SAR could be utilizing to locate anything of interest? Let's brainstorm a bit, maybe even google. Share some ideas, think of this as a blank slate. Sometimes answers are right in front of us, we just need to clear the noise. Any interest in this approach appreciated. TIA, all.

This is the post that is most important .
Thank you for snapping us back to what the focus needs to be.
My question- are there any farms? Farms that have corn growing?
The reason that I ask, is because a few years back there was a teen girl that went missing in Kansas in the month of June. (I realize these are different types of terrain) .
It seemed like she vanished. It was many months later that her remains were discovered by the farmer himself after the Winter set in.
I have heard that it can be close to impossible to find a person in a large cornfield such as this...


AMOO MOO JMO

 

[Oriah]

This is the post that is most important .
Thank you for snapping us back to what the focus needs to be.
My question- are there any farms? Farms that have corn growing?
The reason that I ask, is because a few years back there was a teen girl that went missing in Kansas in the month of June. (I realize these are different types of terrain) .
It seemed like she vanished. It was many months later that her remains were discovered by the farmer himself after the Winter set in.
I have heard that it can be close to impossible to find a person in a large cornfield such as this...


AMOO MOO JMO

Good questions, Ravenmoon.

There is both steep/ low mountainous terrain in the immediate and surrounding area, as well as many acres of farmland growing a variety of crops. Many mimic in appearance the types of fields that you are referring to (corn and others.) Summer disappeared at the early to mid to full height of the growing season for many crops in the area. Various stages of growth everywhere. SAR teams went from the need for bushwhacking to rappelling in some instances due to the steep terrain, to later on fanning out on foot so as to 'clear' areas ahead of heavy machinery used to plow, irrigate etc., which can do severe damage to evidence on the ground. Not easy stuff for SAR- and IMO indicates a very real possibilty that Summer could have been either lost in any of those areas, or somehow ended up in any of those areas through other means.

Because these various terrains virtually surround the Wells' residence, I go back to possible initial direction of travel. I think most of us are in agreement that someone probably didn't drive directly up to the front or back door of the residence and simply take Summer. There has also been no reported evidence of a crime or accident occurring at the residence, and there were as few as five individuals present in addition to Summer at the residence at that time. So it seems there is a good chance she did- at least initially- leave the immediate vicinity on foot.

That matters a lot when it comes to terrain, and whether she may have ended up in the wild hillside, the gravel or paved road, fields, or a stream or other body of water. What do folks think about this reasoning?

 

[ReadySet]

@Oriah: either I've forgotten how to reply with quote or it's not working.

I haven''t been following closely in past months so excuse these questions:

Has it ever been confirmed by LE or stated in msm that SW was seen within 3 hours of the report of her disappearance?

Did LE state the vehicle was witnessed by trusted source? Who?

 

[Oriah]

@Oriah: either I've forgotten how to reply with quote or it's not working.

I haven''t been following closely in past months so excuse these questions:

Has it ever been confirmed by LE or stated in msm that SW was seen within 3 hours of the report of her disappearance?

Did LE state the vehicle was witnessed by trusted source? Who?

I believe this link contains most of the info you're looking for:

amber-alert-summer-wells

Regarding the 3 hr time frame- the 6:30pm ish time of notice to HCSO has been. The window of time prior to that is derived from various other interviews with witnesses throughout the day, including statements made by CW and CH about the time frame of the afternoon/early evening. LE has not released any details about the timeline beyond what was reported by CW, and when the initial
911 call was received.

 

[December]

If you look at the TBI videos, you can see some widely varying terrain in the area that would have been within walking distance for SW.

The Wells property is mostly undeveloped although there are a lot of various objects in the proximity to the house (sheds, vehicles, etc.).

But, some of their neighbors have cultivated fields that are fairly flat considering the area. Given it was June, SW could disappear in just about any field. I remember they cautioned people about mowing (hay, i presume).

I think everything has been searched many times, but still. Some areas (near her house) would be easier to thoroughly search than others.

But, if we throw literally any vehicle in the mix, there are two interstates not that far from her house. Rogersville is in the northeast corner of Tennessee so Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia aren't really that far away.

Although, jmo moo, she's in Hawkins or Sullivan County. Too far for her to walk, but not that far really. This is just a feeling i have kind of based on the reported time frame and how early a massive search started.

 

[crussell821]

May today be the day. Bumping for Summer.

 

[ReadySet]

Thanks for replying.

I don't see anything in those links that LE or msm establishes that SW was seen within 3 hours of her disappearance; or that the vehicle was seen by trusted source.

If I have missed that, could you please point it out? TIA

I believe this link contains most of the info you're looking for:

amber-alert-summer-wells

Regarding the 3 hr time frame- the 6:30pm ish time of notice to HCSO has been. The window of time prior to that is derived from various other interviews with witnesses throughout the day, including statements made by CW and CH about the time frame of the afternoon/early evening. LE has not released any details about the timeline beyond what was reported by CW, and when the initial
911 call was received.

 

[Sneaker33]

I initially read some neighbors refused to allow law enforcement to search for Summer on their property. This is why law enforcement were only able to request people look in their property. I would have no problem if LE asked to search my property but I don't have anything to hide. I wish they would do something to allow searches for children on the property of neighboring properties with the stipulation no charges be brought for illegal activities unrelated to kidnapping or human trafficking.

 

[Oriah]

Thanks for replying.

I don't see anything in those links that LE or msm establishes that SW was seen within 3 hours of her disappearance; or that the vehicle was seen by trusted source.

If I have missed that, could you please point it out? TIA

5-months-later-hawkins-co-sheriff-says-search-for-summer-wells-continues-but-no-signs-point-to-abduction

Quoted from link:

'Months later, that truck and its driver haven’t been identified. However, Lawson did share more about the person who gave that information about that truck.

“It was somebody driving a company truck that a lot of officers here are familiar with this gentleman, and we believe that he actually saw it,” he said.'


If you read this link carefully, you will see where the sheriff discusses the tip from the individual who brought the red truck to the attention of LE. There was quite a bit of discussion about it much earlier in the threads, and I have posted this link in the past.

Regarding the three hour time period prior to Summer being reported missing, please also see much discussion throughout the threads regarding the timeline.

Summer was seen by A and H after all morning/early afternoon activities on June 15th were finished, when H was dropped back off at home. CW and CH have described the afternoon. HCSO got the missing call around 6:30pm. A 3:30 onward time period seems very reasonable.

Has LE come out and said, this is the exact time we are saying Summer disappeared? No. They either do not know the exact time Summer disappeared that day, or they are not sharing. Both circumstances are very common.
But all of the evidence the public has points toward Summer's disappearance occurring in the afternoon of June 15th.

MOO, of course.

 

[Oriah]

If you look at the TBI videos, you can see some widely varying terrain in the area that would have been within walking distance for SW.

The Wells property is mostly undeveloped although there are a lot of various objects in the proximity to the house (sheds, vehicles, etc.).

But, some of their neighbors have cultivated fields that are fairly flat considering the area. Given it was June, SW could disappear in just about any field. I remember they cautioned people about mowing (hay, i presume).

I think everything has been searched many times, but still. Some areas (near her house) would be easier to thoroughly search than others.

But, if we throw literally any vehicle in the mix, there are two interstates not that far from her house. Rogersville is in the northeast corner of Tennessee so Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia aren't really that far away.

Although, jmo moo, she's in Hawkins or Sullivan County. Too far for her to walk, but not that far really. This is just a feeling i have kind of based on the reported time frame and how early a massive search started.

I recall that very early on there was some mention of I-26. Does anyone else recall that? Not the truck that was/was not located, but the AA.
I know in western NC, when the AA went out, I immediately thought to myself what a straight shot it was from east TN thru Johnson City and down east into NC via I-26.

December, is there something specific that makes you think Sullivan Co? TIA

 

[deugirtni]

5-months-later-hawkins-co-sheriff-says-search-for-summer-wells-continues-but-no-signs-point-to-abduction

Quoted from link:

'Months later, that truck and its driver haven’t been identified. However, Lawson did share more about the person who gave that information about that truck.

“It was somebody driving a company truck that a lot of officers here are familiar with this gentleman, and we believe that he actually saw it,” he said.'


If you read this link carefully, you will see where the sheriff discusses the tip from the individual who brought the red truck to the attention of LE. There was quite a bit of discussion about it much earlier in the threads, and I have posted this link in the past.

Regarding the three hour time period prior to Summer being reported missing, please also see much discussion throughout the threads regarding the timeline.

Summer was seen by A and H after all morning/early afternoon activities on June 15th were finished, when H was dropped back off at home. CW and CH have described the afternoon. HCSO got the missing call around 6:30pm. A 3:30 onward time period seems very reasonable.

Has LE come out and said, this is the exact time we are saying Summer disappeared? No. They either do not know the exact time Summer disappeared that day, or they are not sharing. Both circumstances are very common.
But all of the evidence the public has points toward Summer's disappearance occurring in the afternoon of June 15th.

MOO, of course.

I wonder why the sheriff would say 'no signs point to abduction', when at the same time, he is saying there was a red truck seen apparently at the critical time, which is still unaccounted for, and says police believe the person who saw it, did actually see it?