Culleoka Unit School teacher Tad Cummins spent months harassing and assaulting Elizabeth Thomas before he kidnapped her and drove her to California to make her his “wife.”
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationsElizabeth “ Beth ” Thomas and Tad Cummins , her former teacher .
On March 13 , 2017 , 15 - year - quondam high school student Elizabeth Thomas disappeared . After an Amber Alert and a 38 - day lookup , she was find out in northern California , where she was being make by a 50 - twelvemonth - old married father of two named Tad Cummins , her former wellness teacher at Culleoka Unit School in Tennessee .
While Cummins ’ kidnapping of Thomas was already condemnable , the state of affairs was made all the more tragic when Thomas discover that she had initially viewed Cummins as a mentor and protective figure — only for him to then abuse that connection and “ hostler ” the teen for months prior to her disappearance . Cummins even test to flex his action in court , claiming that Thomas had want to run off and he was concerned about her go out on her own , so he join her .
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationsElizabeth “Beth” Thomas and Tad Cummins, her former teacher.
In truth , however , Tad Cummins had been lusting after his new student . Just before the kidnapping , he was suspended from his position as a teacher after another scholarly person hear him kissing Thomas on schooling reason .
Her house claimed that he had spent months pressuring Thomas into spending metre with him . Cummins ultimately thread up pleading guilty to federal counts of transporting a minor across state line for the purpose of charter in deplorable sexual conduct — perhaps affirm what his true intentions had been .
How Tad Cummins Groomed And Manipulated Elizabeth Thomas
On the dayspring of March 13 , 2017 , Tad Cummins left a note for his wife in which he wrote that he was leaving to “ opine . ” He also necessitate her not to call the law .
Later that same eventide , Anthony Thomas report his girl missing . What followed was a 38 - day manhunt for Cummins that lead police to a distant cabin in Cecilville , California — a small , four - walled hovel where Cummins had holed up in with his underage dupe .
Despite Cummins ’ initial claims during police force interviews that he “ never touch another woman ” in his 31 years of marriage , investigator uncovered a serial publication of shocking revelations after Cummins ’ pinch .
Tad Cummins/TwitterTad Cummins was 50 years old when he began a sexual relationship with 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas.
Tad Cummins / TwitterTad Cummins was 50 geezerhood old when he begin a sexual family relationship with 15 - class - older Elizabeth Thomas .
According toThe Tennessean , Cummins first pose his stack on Thomas while she was enrolled in his health grade .
Tad Cummins was key as a masterfully manipulative piranha , pressuring Thomas to go out with him and peril her with repercussions at school if she reject . A petition file by Thomas ’ Father of the Church explained that the teen missy told friends she was scared of Cummins and felt in over her head .
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationsTad Cummins and Elizabeth Thomas in his classroom.
She had just latterly begun making the transition from homeschooling to public school . Thomas also say that her mother had abused her growing up , and perhaps that is why she ab initio feel such a strong connection to Cummins .
“ He made me feel like I did n’t have anyone else , and no one really care about me like he did , ” she recalled to ABC’s20/20 . “ Whenever I tried to search genial avail , he told me no . I was feel real low-toned … and he told me no and not to do it ’cause it ’d change who I was . ”
Thomas was given a seat near Cummins ’ desk in his class . Other student also report go through him originate physical contact with her during school hour , include rubbing her shoulders and back .
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationsElizabeth Thomas told friends that she was both in love with Cummins and terrified of him.
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationsTad Cummins and Elizabeth Thomas in his schoolroom .
At one spot , when she was alone in the schoolroom with her , he told her , “ You ’d look reasonably nice naked . ”
Then , when a student saw Cummins osculate Thomas at school , it took a hebdomad before the teacher was suspended . During that week , he was the chaperone for a field trip Thomas snuff it on .
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationsTad Cummins and Elizabeth Thomas caught on camera at an Oklahoma Walmart.
He reportedly also clean Thomas up from her habitation and took her out to meal , threatening her with repercussions at school day if she refused .
Even after he was suspend , he proceed to follow up on Thomas , showing up at her after - school line of work . According to lawcourt papers , she would often hide from him and ask her coworkers to lie down and say she was n’t at work .
“ He say if he could n’t have me , he ’d kill himself , ” Thomas recalled . “ Any prison term he threatened himself , he ’d menace my fellowship . ”
But Thomas reportedly felt guilty about Tad Cummins ’ intermission and as worried that he would discover a way to penalize her for it .
In a way , she was correct , as Cummins ultimately show up one mean solar day in his wife ’s Nissan Rogue and told Thomas to get in . He convinced her to run away with him and , as a silent threat , range a gun on the console .
“ He threatened my family , ” Thomas later said . “ My little baby was there and my whole kinsfolk was there and if I did n’t go something regretful would find to them … I know once I scram in that car , I was n’t getting out . ”
The Kidnapping Of Elizabeth Thomas
Tad Cummins wanted to be sure that he would n’t get caught . After he took Thomas forth with him , he made her throw her telephone off a bridge , disconnected the GPS in his married woman ’s railway car , and even proceed as far as to unhook the radio .
Cummins drove them across nine states , lease a different hotel way each nighttime , unremarkably in room with only one bed . His command run low further , though , as he even controlled what Thomas ate .
“ He told me he like close girls , ” she enjoin . “ And I ate what he told me to ’cause if I did n’t , I would n’t get it at all . ”
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationsElizabeth Thomas told friends that she was both in love with Cummins and terrified of him .
“ I acknowledge he ’s a spoilt man , ” she told20/20 . “ He only used me for one thing . ”
Thomas also said that Tad Cummins had sexually abused her and that they had sex almost every night while they were on the run . Cummins also admitted to this during an interview with the FBI .
Cummins used his own name when reserve hotel room for the two to stay in . A Walmart security camera in Oklahoma captured images of the two in the store together , but for a time it seemed like their track had go cold . Then , another Tennessee native name Griffin Barry made a phone call that led investigators correct to Cummins .
Of course , it was n’t easy for Thomas to put everything behind her , and the emotional damage she suffered as a outcome of the experience lurk for years .
Elizabeth Thomas Describes The Abuse She Faced At The Hands Of Tad Cummins
“ What you did to me was unspeakable , ” Thomas said to Cummins in astatementduring his trial . “ You see a humiliated girl , who was lonely , frightened and traumatized . You made her palpate secure and loved because you saw what she needed and made her conceive you would be her ‘ protector ’ … All you were was a man who wanted sex … Tad Cummins is a sick , revolting crook . ”
Tennessee Bureau of InvestigationsTad Cummins and Elizabeth Thomas becharm on camera at an Oklahoma Walmart .
Two years after the abduction , when Thomas spoke with20/20for the first time , she detail how the handling skewed her perceptions of trust and love . Other teachers at the schooling had tease apart her following Cummins ’ respite . Other educatee bully her . She was a girl from a damaged menage , endeavor to tally in like everyone else , and instead , a human she wanted to trust took advantage of her .
Cummins had repeatedly told Thomas that “ the Lucifer made ” him pursue a relationship with her .
“ But if that ’s true , then you are the fiend , ” her statement continued . “ Your alternative were yours and yours alone . A 17 - year - old girl should not have to separate a 52 - year - sure-enough gentleman this , but choice have outcome . Your alternative destroy not just my phratry , but also yours . ”
Thomas also express anger at Cummins ’ demeanor in court , during which he weep and appeared to show remorse for his military action .
“ Where was any of that when you directed me into your schoolroom loo and violated me over and over again for months ? ” Thomas call for . “ Where was any of that when you spend untold amounts of time and effort into manipulating , blackmail , and deceiving me into think that you were the only person who care about me ? ”
Before his sentencing in motor hotel , Tad Cummins once againappeared emotionaland apologetic .
“ To the dupe , I want you to know : I agree . This was not your break . You were a nipper . My mistaken endeavour to help you fail sideway , ” he said . “ Anything I can do to give you closure , I stand ready . ”
After read about Tad Cummins crimes , read the worrisome narrative ofNathaniel Kibby , the New Hampshire man who kidnapped a 14 - year - former girl and curb her captive for nine months . Then , read the story ofAndrey Emelyannikov , the student who withdraw a selfie with the body of a teacher he murdered just before kill himself .
