Concern Grows for Tennessee Girl, 15, Who Vanished With Teacher, 50

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Investigators put out an urgent call Sunday for help finding Tennessee high school freshman Elizabeth Thomas, who disappeared along with an armed former teacher a week ago, according to authorities who said they were deeply concerned "about his intentions for her."

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Tad Cummins, 50, had possibly planned the kidnapping on March 13 of Elizabeth, 15, who attends Culleoka Unit School in Maury County, near the Alabama border.

The TBI has added Cummins, who has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor, to its list of most wanted fugitives. It warned Sunday that he is believed to be armed with two handguns and should be considered dangerous.

On Monday afternoon, the TBI released new images of Cummins, captured the week before he and Elizabeth disappeared.

Authorities said there had been no credible sightings of Elizabeth or of Cummins since Monday, when she was seen in Decatur, Alabama — the same day that grim posts appeared on her and Cummins' social media accounts, NBC affiliate WSMV of Nashville, Tennessee, reported.

Cummins' wife, Jill, pleaded with him to return Elizabeth safely.

"Tad, this is not you," Jill Cummins told told reporters Saturday. "This is not who you are. We can help you get through this."

"Please do the right thing," she added. "Bring Elizabeth back home."

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Elizabeth said, like many students, she looked to Cummins as a counselor. She's been to church with him, she said. According to the report, he never made her feel uncomfortable and he never touched her, except for the occasional fist bump. He also grabbed her hands one time to calm her down, she said.

A faculty member identified in the report as "Teacher 1" said she had seen Elizabeth in Cummins' classroom a great deal and felt Cummins "should have a better boundary between his role as the student's teacher and the student's friend."

However, Teacher 1 said she never witnessed anything inappropriate, and Cummins' door was always open when students were in his classroom, according to the report.
The report concluded the allegation the two had kissed could not be confirmed but recommended Elizabeth be taken out of Cummins' class. Elizabeth should be told to bring anxiety issues to counselors and administration in the future, it said.

Four days later, an official reprimand issued to Cummins indicated that Elizabeth had been in his classroom for a half-hour earlier that day.

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Whatley described Anthony Thomas, a single father of 10, as a blue-collar guy. Elizabeth's mother does not live with the family, Whatley said.

Asked how Anthony Thomas is holding up, the lawyer said he's sad, anxious and suffering from high blood pressure.

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