5 Most Disturbing Things We Just Learned About The Tennessee Teacher Abduction

New reports offer insight into what life was like for 15-year-old vicim Elizabeth Thomas.

5 Most Disturbing Things About Tad Cummins The Tennessee Teacher Abduction WBIR
Advertisement

If you've been reading the news online, you may have seen an Amber Alert for Elizabeth Thomas and Tad Cummins and the nationwide manhunt for the two of them.

Mary Catherine "Elizabeth" Thomas, 15, a student at Culleoka Unit School in Columbia, TN went missing on March 13, 2017, along with her Forensics teacher, Tad Cummins, 50.

Tad Cummins is a married father (though divorce proceedings are pending), grandfather, and teacher with no criminal background

Advertisement

It's said that Cummins had been "grooming" Thomas for weeks, possibly months before the kidnapping. 

Authorities had insisted that Elizabeth was in extreme danger as news broke that Cummins took two guns with him from his home.

Initially, reports suggested that Cummins and Thomas had kissed in a classroom but both denied the allegations.


WKRN (Tad Cummins and Elizabeth Thomas in a classroom)

Advertisement

Cummins was subsequently suspended because he did not adhere to the directions of school administration that he was not to be in contact with Elizabeth Thomas anymore.

You can view the entire media packet that outlines the events and investigations into the alleged kiss here.

Over a month long search, many false sightings and one confirmed sighting in a Walmart in Oklahoma, they were safely located in Northern California by a cabin owner who recognized the two from social media.

Here are 5 disturbing revelations from the criminal complaint against Tad Cummins, who was arrested without protest on April 20, 2017:

Advertisement

1. Tad Cummins took his wife's Nissan Rogue.


DailyMail (Tad Cummins with the Nissan Rogue)

On the morning of March 13, 2017, Cummins told his wife he would be taking her Nissan Rogue to a job interview at the Williamson County Medical Center, which was a lie. 

There was no job interview.

Cummins was seen on surveillance footage putting gas into the vehicle and driving toward Elizabeth Thomas' place of work, Shoney's Restaurant.

Advertisement


WSMV (Elizabeth Thomas leaving her home on March 13, 2017)

That same morning, Elizabeth was driven to work by a friend and had brought what looked like (in the photo above) extra clothing.

When Elizabeth didn't arrive home after her scheduled shift, her father called police.

It was later revealed that Jill Cummins, Tad's wife, was left a note stating that Tad would be going to Virginia or D.C. to clear his head — she never called police because she had no reason to think it was suspicious — but after learning that Thomas disappeared, she alerted authorities.

Advertisement

 

2. Cummins took out a $4,500 loan.


WBIR (Tad Cummins)

After falsifying information, Cummins was given a $4,500 loan that his wife thought would be put to use as he searched for a new job. However, along with his guns and some toiletries, the money was taken with him when he kidnapped Elizabeth Thomas.

Advertisement

3. Cummins refilled his Cialis prescription.


Heavy (Tad Cummins)

Jill Cummins revealed that Tad had been prescribed Cialis, a drug commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and to prolong sexual activity. Just days before the disappearance, Tad had refilled the prescription and received 7 pills.

4. The two had been sleeping in the same bed.

Advertisement


MyFox8 (Tad Cummins and Elizabeth Thomas in an Oklahoma Walmart)

FBI received a tip from an employee at a Super 8 Motel who had checked their national database to see if the names came up. Results showed that Cummins stayed at Motel 8 on March 15-16 in Oklahoma. 

The motel database had a copy of Cummins' drivers license and he had given them the phone number associated to his cell phone.

Advertisement

The room they both slept in had a queen size bed, which means they had been sharing the bed.

On April 1, authorities received another tip that Cummins had stayed at a different Motel 8 location on March 16-17, also with a single bed.

5. Tad Cummins purchased several items from Walmart.


Wordpress (Tad Cummins and Elizabeth Thomas)

Advertisement

Cummins and Thomas shopped at another Walmart location in Oklahoma and picked up several items, including women's razors, chocolate, and KY Jelly.

KY Jelly is a common lube used for sexual intercourse.

Based on the facts, and evidence, authorities believe that Cummins and Thomas were engaged in a sexual relationship.