Tennessee Teacher, Alleged Kidnapper Tad Cummins Arrested In Northern California; Missing Teen Elizabeth Thomas Safe

NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday that former Maury County teacher Tad Cummins has been arrested in Northern California and his former student, Elizabeth Thomas, whom he is suspected of abducting more than a month ago, is safe. The pair was found at a cabin, according to the TBI.

Law enforcement in secluded Siskiyou County, near the Shasta-Trinity National Forest three hours northwest of Redding, California, near the Oregon border, confirmed to multiple outlets that Cummins' Nissan Rogue was discovered there late Wednesday night without a license plate. The Rogue was confirmed as Cummins' by matching its VIN.

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"We received a call from an individual in California. ... The caller indicated (Cummins and Thomas) had taken up residence at a cabin in Cecilville, Calif. We contacted the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department and learned they had the same information from the same individual and we requested assistance," TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said at a Thursday afternoon press conference. "There were challenges. The area ... is a remote area with no or limited cell phone coverage. Authorities there kept the car under surveillance and were able to take Tad Cummins into custody ...without incident."

The owner of the property where the car was discovered told The Tennessean that his caretaker told him that Cummins came to a nearby saloon looking for work.

"Our intelligence analysts and agents have worked tirelessly since issuing this AMBER Alert to process more than 1,500 leads from all 50 states,” TBI Director Mark Gwyn said in a statement. “What happened in California this morning, however, proves it only takes one person to lead to a successful end. We are extremely thankful the hard work of all partners in this search has paid off. We’re also grateful for the public’s support and vigilance throughout this search effort.”

Gwyn said TBI, FBI and Maury County officials are on their way to northern California on a TBI aircraft and Thomas — who is "healthy and unharmed," according to Maury County District Attorney-General Brent Cooper — will be returning with them.

Cummins is being held without bond in California, awaiting extradition to Tennessee to face charges of sexual contact with a minor and aggravated kidnapping, according to the TBI. In addition, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Jack Smith said Cummins will be charged with the federal crime of transporting a minor across state lines for criminal sexual intercourse.

Thomas, 15, was reported missing by her parents March 13, last seen by a friend who dropped her off at a Columbia Shoney's . Investigators believe she was abducted by Cummins, 50, her former teacher at Culleoka Unit School. Cummins was already under investigation for sexual contact with a minor after being seen allegedly kissing Thomas earlier in the school year. There had been only one confirmed sighting of the pair — at an Oklahoma City Walmart just two days after Thomas went missing — in the nearly six weeks since the teenager was reported missing by her parents.

Image via TBI