Tad Cummins Planned To Take Elizabeth Thomas To Mexico By Boat: Prosecutors

NASHVILLE, TN — Investigators say ex-Maury County teacher Tad Cummins planned to escape to Mexico by boat with his former student, 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas.

Detectives say that the 50-year-old bought a small watercraft and conducted a "test run," with plans to go to sea in San Diego, Calif. and step ashore in Mexico. Cummins was arrested outside of a secluded cabin in a remote part of northern California Thursday.

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Federal prosecutors in California, arguing against pre-trial release for Cummins, said the former teacher “planned and executed an audacious scheme" which would culminate in him taking Thomas to Mexico and points farther south "to further his own prurient desires." According to the federal prosecutors, Cummins admitted to complex efforts to avoid capture during his 38 days on the run, including traveling back roads through nine states, using disguises, disengaging the GPS on his wife's Nissan Rogue and staying in motels with lax check-in procedures and communes.

The prosecutors say Cummins "made a number of damaging admissions to law enforcement that provide alarming insight into his mentality" during his post-arrest interviews.

“The crime alleged is heinous. The criminal complaint details a person who abused a sacred position of public trust as a school teacher so that he could pursue an improper sexual relationship with a juvenile victim who was legally unable to consent to such a relationship," the prosecutors argue.

“Such a severe breach of the public trust was exacerbated by [his] bold scheme to flee Tennessee when officials became aware of his behavior. During his flight, the defendant engaged in a daring cat-and-mouse run from law enforcement in order to further his own prurient desires while engaging in a number of sophisticated maneuvers to avoid being caught.

Image via TBI