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

[Peppery]

SBM

Details of Disappearance​

Summer was last seen at her home in the 100 block of Ben Hill Road in the Beech Creek area of Rogersville, Tennessee between 5:30 and about 6:30 p.m. on June 15, 2021.


Her older brothers said she went down into the basement to play, and they never saw her after that. She has never been heard from again; her family said she simply disappeared without anyone seeing or hearing anything out of the ordinary. An extensive search turned up no sign of her, although search dogs tracked her scent through the woods at the end of Ben Hill Road.


Eleven days after Summer disappeared, authorities asked the public for information about a truck that had been seen in the area in the later afternoon to early evening hours of June 14 and June 15. The truck is described as a red or maroon 1998 - 2000 Toyota Tacoma with a full-bed ladder rack and white buckets in the bed.


The vehicle, and its driver, have not been identified. Authorities stated the driver isn't a suspect, but they want to talk to the person and find out what they know and what they might have seen.


Summer's family was investigated for possible involvement in her disappearance. There have been domestic violence issues between her parents, Donald Wells and Candus Bly, and Donald has been arrested for domestic violence on multiple occasions. He stated he was at work when Summer disappeared, and that both he, Candus and Candus's mother had all passed polygraphs about Summer's disappearance.


For unclear reasons, Summer's three older brothers, aged between seven and twelve years old, were removed from the family home by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services about a month after Summer's disappearance. After their removal, police questioned them about the case. They've also interviewed people who had stayed at the home in the months prior to Summer's disappearance.


Authorities haven't named anybody as a suspect in Summer's case. Donald stated he believes his daughter was abducted by someone outside the family.


Summer's aunt, Rose Bly, disappeared from Wisconsin in 2009 and has never been found. The two cases are not thought to be related. Both remain unsolved.

I apologize, I’m having trouble snipping the quote but

search dogs tracked her scent through the woods at the end of Ben Hill Road

Is this true? I thought the dogs tracked her to the end of the driveway/mailbox?

 

[LeoBlackbird26]

Nor have the hundreds of vehicles reported to us as matching the description panned out.

I wonder how they (assuming LE, TBI?) know that THE truck isn’t among the hundreds reported? There must be something more they know about the truck that makes it unique to still include it in Summer’s disappearance. What is that thing and why haven’t they released it?

I would think that it being a useful way to suss out which tips are worth following up on would be the reason they wouldn’t want to release it, no?

 

[carbuff]

I agree with both of you. I’m not certain the boys knew or said anything. This entire case is both confusing and heartbreaking. I wish we had more info and I wish the red truck story would die because I don’t believe any of that. IMO

But it does sound as though they knew and said enough to know that she was in the house after the family returned from the morning's errands.

 

[mom2chloe]

Just curious why, your reasoning?

Because we never heard who reported the alleged red truck and after a year nothing has come of it. IMO there are lots of lies, mistruths and half truths coming from the Tennessee Wells family and possibly their neighbors. The sad reality is that we do not know where the red truck trip came from or much else.

 

[MsMarple]

Nor have the hundreds of vehicles reported to us as matching the description panned out.

I wonder how they (assuming LE, TBI?) know that THE truck isn’t among the hundreds reported? There must be something more they know about the truck that makes it unique to still include it in Summer’s disappearance. What is that thing and why haven’t they released it?

Great question! Is LE looking for a witness or a perp? IF the truck is involved in Summer's disappearance then it would have to have been in the vicinity on June 15. Furthermore, according to DW he was told it actually was parked at the bottom of the Wells' driveway:

“We really need help finding this red pickup truck with ladder rack,” Wells posted on Facebook July 8. “Not sure of make maybe Toyota. Not the one pictured but something like it. I just found out that it was parked at the bottom of our driveway around the time of Summer’s disappearance. Please help us locate this truck..it did have buckets in the back.”

EquuSearch comes up empty; Candus & Don lash out

ROGERSVILLE – “I think one or two people know exactly what has happened to her and they need to come forward,” said Dave Rader of the missing Summer Wells.

www.therogersvillereview.com

In order for an abduction by the truck's driver to happen the truck had to be on Ben Hill Road on the 15th around 6 pm and Summer would have to:

Have either sneaked out of the basement and run down the steep dog path to the bottom, right to the abductor,

Or else the abductor would have to have sneaked up to the house unnoticed and either entered the basement or grabbed Summer as she exited the basement.

Why would Summer suddenly decide to leave the house and go running down a steep path into the woods that she was supposedly afraid of? From everything we've learned about Summer from TikTok and other videos along with descriptions from her parents Summer appears to be quite sociable and not prone to going off into the woods alone. MOO.

IMO the odds are slim that either scenario occurred. Plus the time it would have happened is very close to the time Summer's dad would have been returning home from work so the abductor would be risking running smack into Don. Or any other resident returning home.

IMO the information about the red truck is odd. LE seems to think the person reporting the sighting is reliable but how can they verify the accuracy of it being mid-June? Why would it stand out?

All MOO.

 

[Allabouttrial]

But it does sound as though they knew and said enough to know that she was in the house after the family returned from the morning's errands.

According to the Well's that is correct, but it has never been confirmed by LE.

 

[Allabouttrial]

I apologize, I’m having trouble snipping the quote but

search dogs tracked her scent through the woods at the end of Ben Hill Road

Is this true? I thought the dogs tracked her to the end of the driveway/mailbox?

I think it's just badly worded.

There are two versions of where the dogs tracked Summer's scent.

Don says they tracked her down the dog trail leading out to Ben Hill Rd., and Dave from Equusearch was told by the SAR team that she was tracked down the driveway.

Either way the scent was lost at the end of whichever path she took. No guarantee the scent was from that day though.

 

[mom2chloe]

According to the Well's that is correct, but it has never been confirmed by LE.

This was my point exactly regarding the red truck being an actual red herring. I know we all read the info but without knowing where the info came from we can’t be certain. Same with the boys confirming Summer’s timeline. This info didn’t come from LE or media and therefore cannot be verified. I’m doubtful regarding any statements made by the boys. If someone knows otherwise and could link anything i would be super appreciative. Thanks.

 

[carbuff]

This was my point exactly regarding the red truck being an actual red herring. I know we all read the info but without knowing where the info came from we can’t be certain. Same with the boys confirming Summer’s timeline. This info didn’t come from LE or media and therefore cannot be verified. I’m doubtful regarding any statements made by the boys. If someone knows otherwise and could link anything i would be super appreciative. Thanks.

We're talking about the recent information that was in LE's June 15 press conference. @Allabouttrial posted a transcript of the actual press conference in post #920 upthread. The release from TBI was posted on 105.7's website and probably other media too: AFTER ONE YEAR, AMBER ALERT STILL ACTIVE FOR 6 YEAR OLD SUMMER WELLS

This is the quote about the brothers: "Have you questioned others that were in the home at the time Summer went missing? Yes. Summer’s brothers have been interviewed along with others who stayed in the home in the months before her disappearance." I extrapolated from this LE statement that they must have confirmed that she was at the house that afternoon; if they hadn't, the investigation would likely have taken a different direction. But it would also be an exaggeration to say we know they confirmed the entire timeline.

About the red Toyota:

Why did you release information about a Toyota Truck? An individual who travels through the area regularly as part of his job stated that he recalls possibly seeing a 1998-2000 maroon or red Toyota Tacoma, with a full bed ladder rack and white buckets in the truck bed. The individual stated that the truck might have been parked in the area of Beech Creek Road and Ben Hill Road in the late afternoon to early evening on either Monday, June 14th, or Tuesday, June 15th. That vehicle was not captured on surveillance cameras. In an effort to cover all bases and identify the driver, the TBI, in agreement with the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, released the vehicle description. Our hope was that the individual might have information that could help the investigation. The driver has not come forward, nor have the hundreds of vehicles reported to us as matching the description panned out.

I guess it depends on your point of view whether that makes it a red herring or a potentially significant loose end, but the clue definitely exists.

 

[MsMarple]

I think it's just badly worded.

There are two versions of where the dogs tracked Summer's scent.

Don says they tracked her down the dog trail leading out to Ben Hill Rd., and Dave from Equusearch was told by the SAR team that she was tracked down the driveway.

Either way the scent was lost at the end of whichever path she took. No guarantee the scent was from that day though.

I'm curious about where the dogs began their tracking. IOW where did they pick up Summer's scent? For example, did they start from the basement? The yard? Grandmother's truck?

Maybe @Oriah could let us know if that makes any sense? TIA!

 

[Allabouttrial]

I'm curious about where the dogs began their tracking. IOW where did they pick up Summer's scent? For example, did they start from the basement? The yard? Grandmother's truck?

Maybe @Oriah could let us know if that makes any sense? TIA!

Hmmm good point. Not sure I've seen it mentioned anywhere. DW does do a walkthrough down the dog trail on one of their videos. I don't remember if he explains where the dogs started from though.

 

[Megnut]

I still think, if a dog did follow her scent to the road and/or her brothers last saw her heading down the driveway, it's because Summer did go that way. In the morning.

JMO

 

[Allabouttrial]

I still think, if a dog did follow her scent to the road and/or her brothers last saw her heading down the driveway, it's because Summer did go that way. In the morning.

JMO

I'm not convinced she went down there in the morning, only because Candus and Gma have been asked about that morning a few times. After listening to their answers, the impression I got is that it was never the plan for Summer to remain home alone with the boys.

Even H said Candus told him the plan was for Summer to go fishing/swimming later that day, hence why he asked if he could go along. Also, when she describes getting Summer dressed that morning, she says she put her in her costume/dress because it was going to be hot out that day.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

I have to disagree on the "red truck story." Multiple searches have been done without finding Summer or any hint of what happened to her. The police haven't ruled out the "red truck" and they found the witness credible. Given the amount of publicity, the driver of that truck almost has to know they are looking for him. Why hasn't he come forward to answer questions?

He couple be afraid for any number of reasons. He might have a warrant out. He may not be the kind to "get involved." (Sadly, some have that attitude even if it's a child missing.) Or, maybe he's seen the scrutiny that this family has been under, and he doesn't want YTers camping out in his backyard? Just some possible reasons, imo. MOO

 

[GoBuckeyes]

I think it's just badly worded.

There are two versions of where the dogs tracked Summer's scent.

Don says they tracked her down the dog trail leading out to Ben Hill Rd., and Dave from Equusearch was told by the SAR team that she was tracked down the driveway.

Either way the scent was lost at the end of whichever path she took. No guarantee the scent was from that day though.

Did Summer frequently go to the end of either path? I realize the children enjoyed playing outside, and there was plenty of room to roam. But given her age, I tend to think whichever path SAR tracked her down, that scent was from the day in question. MOO

 

[GoBuckeyes]

@Shamrock1 Your description of your weekly yard prep routine really tickled my funny bone. I don't know if you have dogs in addition to your children. Dogs, too, can sure make for an ever-changing landscape and many unique finds.

 

[Allabouttrial]

Did Summer frequently go to the end of either path? I realize the children enjoyed playing outside, and there was plenty of room to roam. But given her age, I tend to think whichever path SAR tracked her down, that scent was from the day in question. MOO

It was an adamant NO on that, according to Don and Candus. The furthest she would go was the swing because they'd drilled it into her that she wasn't to wander off as it was too dangerous.

Don also said that Summer would sometimes chase the boys down the dog trail, but would stop halfway because she was scared to go any further.

ETA: Mind you, he also said that she would run down the driveway to greet him when he returned from work, as he often brought candy home for her, because....father of the year.

 

[rosesfromangels]

It was an adamant NO on that, according to Don and Candus. The furthest she would go was the swing because they'd drilled it into her that she wasn't to wander off as it was too dangerous.

Don also said that Summer would sometimes chase the boys down the dog trail, but would stop halfway because she was scared to go any further.

ETA: Mind you, he also said that she would run down the driveway to greet him when he returned from work, as he often brought candy home for her, because....father of the year.

What I've observed with kids is that they would *never* *ever* do something....until they do.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[FlossyMay]

What I've observed with kids is that they would *never* *ever* do something....until they do.

Amateur opinion and speculation

Exactly.

 

[lonetraveler]

Great question! Is LE looking for a witness or a perp? IF the truck is involved in Summer's disappearance then it would have to have been in the vicinity on June 15. Furthermore, according to DW he was told it actually was parked at the bottom of the Wells' driveway:

EquuSearch comes up empty; Candus & Don lash out

ROGERSVILLE – “I think one or two people know exactly what has happened to her and they need to come forward,” said Dave Rader of the missing Summer Wells.

www.therogersvillereview.com

In order for an abduction by the truck's driver to happen the truck had to be on Ben Hill Road on the 15th around 6 pm and Summer would have to:

Have either sneaked out of the basement and run down the steep dog path to the bottom, right to the abductor,

Or else the abductor would have to have sneaked up to the house unnoticed and either entered the basement or grabbed Summer as she exited the basement.

Why would Summer suddenly decide to leave the house and go running down a steep path into the woods that she was supposedly afraid of? From everything we've learned about Summer from TikTok and other videos along with descriptions from her parents Summer appears to be quite sociable and not prone to going off into the woods alone. MOO.

IMO the odds are slim that either scenario occurred. Plus the time it would have happened is very close to the time Summer's dad would have been returning home from work so the abductor would be risking running smack into Don. Or any other resident returning home.

IMO the information about the red truck is odd. LE seems to think the person reporting the sighting is reliable but how can they verify the accuracy of it being mid-June? Why would it stand out?

All MOO.

Hummmm a red truck with ladder racks and buckets in the back.....sounds like something a drywall finisher would drive to work. Doesn't it?