Elizabeth Thomas With Family & Friends; Cummins Family Issues Statement

COLUMBIA, TN — Elizabeth Thomas is now "comfortable and resting" with family and friends after returning home to Maury County Friday following the arrest of her former teacher, 50-year-old Tad Cummins, who is facing a bevy of state and federal charges after allegedly abducting his 15-year-old former student and disappearing for 39 days.

S. Jason Whatley, the Thomas family attorney, said Elizabeth is in a "safe location."

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"She is being evaluated and treated by mental health experts specializing in trauma. There is no doubt she suffered severe emotional trauma and that the process of her recovery is only just beginning," Whatley said in a statement Friday.

Whatley added that he was "taken aback" when meeting Elizabeth for the first time, saying that she is a "little child" who could "easily pass for 12," and that the photos of her distributed by law enforcement and, indeed, by her family and his firm do not accurately portray her youth.

The family of Tad Cummins issued a statement of its own through attorneys Friday, saying they too are grateful for Elizabeth's safe return. The family offered no opinion on what should happen to Tad Cummins, trusting the judicial system to do its job in administering justice.

Image via TBI