Tennessee Teen Abducted By Teacher Spotted In Oklahoma
NASHVILLE, TENN. — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says there has been a confirmed sighting of AMBER Alert teen Mary Catherine Elizabeth Thomas and her accused kidnapper Tad Cummins in Oklahoma.
The TBI says based on a tip received on Thursday, they recovered surveillance footage which showed Cummins and Thomas at a Walmart on East I-240 Service Road in Oklahoma City, Okla. on March 15.
The video was taken two days after Thomas disappeared on March 13. The TBI says Cummins appears to have darkened his hair. The images show Thomas may currently have red hair.
This is the first confirmed sighting by the TBI of Thomas and Cummins out of about 1,200 tips. Investigators are working to identify what vehicle they were using.
Thomas, 15, is believed to have been kidnapped by Cummins, 50. Cummins is Thomas’ former teacher and had been fired amid an investigation into allegations of an inappropriate contact. He’s facing charges for aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor.
The TBI has stressed that this is not a romance, but a kidnapping and Thomas remains in danger. Cummins is believed to be armed with two guns.
The FBI and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are involved in the case. The nation-wide BOLO has been in effect for some time.
Source: WSBT