1 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: The teacher who vanished into thin air with his fifteen 2 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: year old students, composed a creepy love song and sang 3 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: it in Cincide. This is Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. 4 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: But Tad Cummins wasn't crooning to missing ninth grader Beth Thomas. 5 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: Get this, He's actually singing to another student he was 6 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:45,279 Speaker 1: close to Destiny Parish now nineteen, says Cummins, became her 7 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 1: confidant when she was about the same age as Beth. 8 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: We used to be really, really close. Um. I could 9 00:00:51,280 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: talk to him just about anything. Can you imagine you 10 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: put your child on the school bus or dropped them 11 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 1: off at school in the morning. Three pm, they're gone. 12 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: And that's just half the story. The rest of the 13 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: story is that their school teacher took them. And you 14 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 1: don't hear another word. Your little girl gone missing with 15 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 1: a fifty year old school teacher and apparently they're so 16 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: called flirtation has been going on right under the noses 17 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: of all the teachers and faculty and administrators at the school. 18 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: As the days passed by, outrage turns to desperation for 19 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: the family of Elizabeth Thomas. She has been kidnapped by 20 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: her teacher Tad Cummins and joining us today a young 21 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: lady Destiny Parish. But by the grace of God, which 22 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: she this is the young lady that this same perv 23 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: teacher sang love songs to Oh Dear Lord in Heaven 24 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: before I go to Destiny. I want to thank our 25 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:15,839 Speaker 1: sponsor today. It is crime Con Crime Busters. Crime Sleu 26 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: is professional and amateur from all over the country, converging 27 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: in Indianapolis June nine through June eleven. We're gonna find 28 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: out the latest in crime fighting techniques and hear from 29 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: experts like Cheryl McCullum in the Cold Case Institute all 30 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: the way to f Lee Bailey, who's some credit the O. J. 31 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: Simpson Acquittal to whether you like that or not. He's 32 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: gonna be with us live. I'm gonna be there along 33 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: with Alan, and we'll be podcasting live. If you go 34 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 1: to crime con dot com use code Nancy to get off. 35 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: I hope I see you there. I'm really looking forward 36 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: to it. Crime Con, thank you for sponsoring our podcast today. 37 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: This is Crime Stories. I'm Nancy grey Ace and with 38 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: no further delay, I want to go straight out to 39 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: our special guest, Destiny, who was once a student at 40 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: the same high school where Elizabeth Thomas was a student 41 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: who was exposed to now kidnapper Tad come as Destiny. 42 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: Thank you for being with us, Thank you for having me, Destiny. 43 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 1: I I just I've got so many questions, but I'm 44 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: gonna try to take it at the a to Z 45 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: take it from the beginning. I'm dying to ask you 46 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: about that ridiculous or as my children say, ridunculous song 47 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,119 Speaker 1: he sung you when you're like, you know what, fourteen 48 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: fifteen years old. But I'm gonna start at the beginning. 49 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: When did you first meet the high school teacher? Tad Cummins? Um? 50 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: We met um at high school obviously. Um. It was 51 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: probably my sophomore or junior year of high school. Um, 52 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: and old were you? I was about fourteen or fifteen? 53 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: And was said, at the same high school? What high 54 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: school is it? So you met him fourteen or fifteen? 55 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: Was he your direct teacher or you in his home 56 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: room or what? You know? He was my direct teacher. 57 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: I had him for health sciences class. What is health 58 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: science is? Could somebody tell me that? Uh? He just 59 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: kind of taught us CPR, like the basics of you know, 60 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: taking temperatures and all that kind of basic stuff. Okay, 61 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: so he's your teacher, you're fourteen or fifteen years old. 62 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: How did you develop a special friendship with him? Um? 63 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 1: It really started out, you know, just I would stay 64 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: after class something like that. Um. You know, I talked 65 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: to him during lunch, before school, after school, that kind 66 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: of thing about what Destiny, What did a fifty year 67 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: old man have to say to a fourteen year old girl. 68 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: Well back in the day, Um, back when I was, 69 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: you know, quite a bit younger. Um. I had been 70 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: going through a lot of different stuff as well, Um, 71 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 1: and had actually become really close. Is Tad talking to 72 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,679 Speaker 1: him about some of this stuff? Um, just a sixth 73 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: person to talk to that I didn't really have to 74 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: worry about because I didn't see him. And he says 75 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: anything other than a you know, a teacher and a friend. 76 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: That's interesting that you say that, Destiny. Everyone with me 77 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 1: is Destiny who was once tag Commins student. They're at 78 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: Cooka High School. Um, that that's really interesting, Destiny, because 79 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: that's the same way Elizabeth was. You know, she doesn't 80 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: have a mother. The mother is charged with abusing mistreating 81 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 1: all her children, including Elizabeth, she had been home schooled 82 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: her whole life. She just enters a school, a public school, 83 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,359 Speaker 1: and was going through all sorts of stuff. With nine siblings, 84 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 1: she's one out of ten, a father that travels all 85 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: the time. I'm sure she had a lot going on, 86 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: a lot of you know, upheaval in her life. So 87 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,559 Speaker 1: she starts talking to tag commins. How does he really 88 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, did he tell you the whole 89 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 1: thing about being a c I A operative that he 90 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: told Elizabeth? What stories did he tell? Um? Right? At first? 91 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: You know, he he really didn't have too much odd 92 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: stuff to say. Um, he had said something up being 93 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 1: a doctor and obviously now I know the respiratory therapist. Um, 94 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,599 Speaker 1: But I he didn't really go too much in depth. 95 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: Whenever we first discussed his you know, other occupations and 96 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: stuff like that, I just thought he was a doctor, 97 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: which was weird because you know, like everybody else has said, 98 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,840 Speaker 1: why would a doctor work at a high school. You know, 99 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: you could be making a lot more money being a 100 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: doctor of sorts thing you know, usually will on teacher salary, 101 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: for sure. That's interesting. So before he was a c 102 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 1: I A operative, to hear him tell it, he had 103 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 1: a career as a medical doctor. Okay, Um, and I 104 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: mean what I mean, a lot of children would think, wow, 105 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: you know, that's really nice to him to teach it 106 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: to high school in his spare time. Okay. Other than 107 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 1: the thing about that was that he did he you know, 108 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,040 Speaker 1: he got out of the job that he had because 109 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: he could because he wanted to be a teacher. Okay, 110 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: you know I can just see that rolling right off 111 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: his tongue. Okay, So he told you he was the 112 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 1: medical doctor and he gave up all the money and 113 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: the prestige because he liked teaching at the high school. Okay, 114 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: what other tall tales did he spend? Can you think 115 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: of any um, other than you know that kind of thing? No, 116 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: not really. Um, he didn't talk too much himself. Um. 117 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: It was always you know, kind of a a me 118 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: talking or him asking about me, how I've been, how 119 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: things have been, that kind of thing. Did he ever 120 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: mention his wife? Um? He mentioned her you know here 121 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: and there, mostly you know, in classes or whatever, But 122 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: he didn't talk too much about her with me. I 123 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: don't hardly know anything about her, and I've I went 124 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: to church with her as well, and I you know, 125 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 1: would have lunch and stuff with him. But I really 126 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: don't know Jill. So when you guys at having all 127 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: these heart to heart conversations, his relationship with his wife 128 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: was not part of that. No. I mean, like I said, 129 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: you know, if I he invited me to church with them, 130 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: and you know, obviously she was there, but she didn't. 131 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: She didn't never really talk. She you know, was kind 132 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: of a third wheel or a background character. I never 133 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: heard too much out of her ever when she was around. 134 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: So let me understand this. It would be you and 135 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: Tad and her, and it was as if she was 136 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: the fifth will not you, the wife was the outsider. Yeah, 137 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: it was weird, like you know, you think she'd try 138 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 1: and talk to me to or you know something, but 139 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: it was just kind of a mutual silence. I don't know, 140 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: it's weird. What would she say? I mean, say, say, 141 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: for instance, you guys would go to church together, where 142 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: would you sit in the car? Where would she say? 143 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: What would he? Would he talk to her or address 144 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: her at all? He would um a lot of times 145 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: at church. Um, the first time I went, you know, 146 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: I went dressed with him, and then you know, my 147 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 1: family and stuff started going as well. When I sit 148 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 1: with Ben. Um, I you know, talked to Tad before 149 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,319 Speaker 1: or after church or whatever. But I did sit with 150 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: my family at church, UM. But the only reason I 151 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: ever went was because Tad had invited me. What did 152 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: you notice about their relationship? I I didn't notice too much, 153 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 1: like I said, you know, I mean, they seem happy 154 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: like Facebook and all that, but I just never you 155 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: don't hear much about her. I never heard much about 156 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: you know, his kids even really, I didn't hear too 157 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: much about any of Like his life was, you know, 158 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: like I said, all him trying to figure out how 159 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 1: I was and all that kind of stuff. Did he 160 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: ever visit your home or where you worked? He did 161 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: not that that definitely was not an issue at the time. 162 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: How did it come about that he sang a love 163 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: song to you? Um? I was um a piano player 164 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:57,559 Speaker 1: back in the day. I don't play too much anymore, 165 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 1: and I've learned a new song and I was to 166 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: show it to him because you know, like I said, 167 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: he was a good friend and I was really impressed 168 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: with myself for learning it. So I took him. We 169 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 1: went to the music room, UM, which is you know, 170 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: right next to his class UM, and it was after school, 171 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: and um, he had sat down first and he you know, 172 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: started playing, and you know, I just kind of listened. Obviously, 173 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:21,719 Speaker 1: I didn follow after he did. You know, we were 174 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: kind of done after that. But he started singing that, 175 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: and like I had said, about halfway through the show, 176 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: I started recording because I thought he was doing good. 177 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: I didn't notice the lyrics at first, but I really, 178 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: you know, I can't sing and play the piano, you know, 179 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: I thought it was a pretty cool thing could be 180 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: able to do because I was definitely, you know, quite 181 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: a bit behind and skill set back. Then did he 182 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: say he made up the song? He wrote the song? 183 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 1: He didn't. Um, he never said anything about it. Um, 184 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 1: but I tried looking up lyrics and could never find 185 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 1: the same song online anywhere, and he similar lyrics anything 186 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: like that, So I assumed that he did. I could 187 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: swim for a thousand miles in the oceans inside your 188 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: eyes and never reached the side. Yeah, okay, you're the 189 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: kind of woman a man can love for the rest 190 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 1: of his life. And I don't know why. I feel 191 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: it's your eyes. Oh your eyes Is that ringing a 192 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 1: veiled destiny? Yeah? Yeah, for sure. So you're in the 193 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,079 Speaker 1: music room and where are you sitting? And where is 194 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 1: he sitting? Uh? He started on the bench, you know, 195 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: on in front of the piano, and I just stood 196 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: behind him. I didn't, you know, sit next to him, because, 197 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 1: like I said, we were closed. But we did never 198 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: like no physical contact really, so I wasn't super comfortable 199 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: when I was really shy. After he sings the song 200 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: with those lyrics, what did he say, Um, not too much? 201 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: About halfway through? Um, some of the drama kids from 202 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: the drama club at school work right across the hall 203 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 1: and they had heard the piano and you know, somebody singing, 204 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: so they came in to check it out. And that 205 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 1: was the end of the audio clip, was people coming 206 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,439 Speaker 1: in and you know, saying how surprised of or how 207 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: good he was, all that stuff. So he didn't we 208 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: weren't alone at that point. Yeah, there's nothing like ruining, 209 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 1: ruining a romantic moment with a underaged minor, then a 210 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: bunch of students coming into the class to just burst 211 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: that bubble. But you were listening to him singing. Do 212 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: you recall what you were thinking or feeling? Like I said, 213 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: I didn't think anything of it. I didn't really notice 214 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 1: the lyrics too much. Um, I was just kind of 215 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: very observed in at all. And it was after I 216 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: you know, got home and listened to it again and 217 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: played it for you know, a friend of mine that 218 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,439 Speaker 1: I realized what was actually being said. And even then, 219 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 1: like I said, it didn't hit me because he wasn't 220 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: ever inappropriate. He was always I mean, yeah, there were 221 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: some things that sent up red flags now, but I 222 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: didn't ever think that any of this would ever happened 223 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:23,199 Speaker 1: for sure when you say things send up red flags now, 224 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: like what well the song for sure? Um, the day 225 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: that we were all the students in his classroom during 226 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: lunch and he told them that, you know, the office 227 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 1: told him the students couldn't be in there anymore, so 228 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: he sent them all back to the cafeteria and let 229 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: me stay and told you know me that the office 230 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 1: hadn't said anything to him, He just didn't want all 231 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: the students in this class. You know. That's that's definitely 232 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: kind of a red flag kind of weird that he 233 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: sent every other student away, like ten or fifteen other 234 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: kids and not me. Okay, explained to me how that 235 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: went down. I don't know about that. What happened. Um, well, 236 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 1: I was, like I said, really shy back in high school. UM, 237 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: didn't really have too many people I talked to. So 238 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:08,599 Speaker 1: during lunch I would just go into Tad's room and 239 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: sitting there because I didn't eat any ways. UM. That way, 240 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: I didn't have to sit alone at lunch or sit 241 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: there and you know, feel really awkward or anything. So 242 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 1: I would sit in his class and a couple of 243 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 1: other students with that going there play on their phones 244 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: because he didn't care, even though we had cell phone 245 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: rules at school. UM, you know, so they could sit 246 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: him there on their phones or on the computers, UM, 247 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: stuff like that. And that's what some of the kids 248 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: were doing. UM. But then Tad, you know, I made 249 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: a class announcement. He was like, hey, guys, you know 250 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: office called. You know, you guys have to go back 251 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: to lunch. Um. You know that you're not allowed to 252 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: be in here. You're supposed to be at lunch during 253 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: this time. UM. So he everybody else left and I 254 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: grabbed my back and went to leave, and he was 255 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: he told me, you know, this office hadn't said anything, 256 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: um that he just didn't want you know, all the 257 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: kids in his room and that I could stay. So 258 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: they cleared the room, kept you in there, and then 259 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 1: what what if anything? Did he say? Nothing? Really, I 260 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: don't remember too much else, just us kind of sitting 261 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: in chip chatting like we always did, just another another day. 262 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: And none of the other students noticed. No, I guess not. 263 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, from what I remember, everybody did 264 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: quit even after that day going into his room. For 265 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: the most part, you know, I still did. But when 266 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: you say, in retrospect, looking back there were red flags, 267 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: what else do you recall? Um? Those are the two 268 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: definitely the main things, UM, because you know, like I said, 269 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: a lot of the other stuff, it didn't really seem 270 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: as if anything was wrong. I didn't, you know, notice 271 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: too much, UM, other than maybe the day that I 272 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: moved away from the school. What happened, UM. I was 273 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: a junior in high school. UM. I was about it 274 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: was late December, UM, right before sprint Christmas break. Sorry, UM, 275 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: I was moving to Wichita, UM over to Kansas. So 276 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: I had, you know, gotten unenrolled from school and transfers 277 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: and all of that in order, and it was my 278 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: last day. So I went in and saw him, UM 279 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: told him, you know that he already already knew I 280 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: was leaving, but told him and I was going in 281 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: telling goodbye and everything. You know, I've already done it 282 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: with my other friends and stuff. And it was the 283 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: end of the day. Um. Now went in and we 284 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: had talked for a minute and he gave me a 285 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: hug and he told me, no, don't ever let anybody 286 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: tell you you're not beautiful. And then he told me, 287 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: you know, because I'm not a student anymore of his, 288 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: that I could add him on Facebook. Um, and you know, 289 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: we kept in touch through that through his cell phone. 290 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: And you know after I movie, like I said, i'd 291 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: come back, have you know, luch or whatever with his 292 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: wife for go to the school and see him. And 293 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: when you would go back, what was his demeanor, Um, 294 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: It was always the same. He really always seemed excited 295 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: to see me. Um. I called the school once and 296 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,400 Speaker 1: they know, transferred me to his room and as soon 297 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: as he picked up the phone, you know, he you 298 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 1: could hear it, you know, destiny perish and he was 299 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:15,199 Speaker 1: just really surprised and excited and you know, let me 300 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: know when I could come to school, that it wouldn't 301 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: be during one of his classes, so you know, we 302 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: could actually have time to talk, um, which is probably 303 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 1: you know, all weird too. But at the same time, 304 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:30,120 Speaker 1: you know, I don't want to go during his class. Um, 305 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 1: so let me ask you this. Uh, you know that 306 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: it's just the grace of God that you're not in 307 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Thomas as Shues right now? Is the way I 308 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: see it. When you first learned that she had been 309 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 1: taken by Tad Commins, what did you think, Um, Well, 310 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: I got the call from my mom at first, and 311 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: she would let me know when I was in total denial. 312 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 1: I thought, you know, maybe she was messing with me 313 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: or something, which you know, why would she and I 314 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 1: get that now. But I saw Tad is you know, 315 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: a really really great guy. I never saw that he 316 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: would do anything like this, so I did not believe it. 317 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: And then I had seen the you know, the reports 318 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 1: on Facebook, and I had two or three other people 319 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 1: call me. Um, a friend that I haven't talked to 320 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: in you know, three years, called me and was like, 321 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, it could have been you. Like that's 322 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,679 Speaker 1: everybody knew he and I were really close. So it 323 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 1: was definitely a shock, and I definitely did not want 324 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: to believe it at first. But it's rough. When you 325 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: heard that he had told people he's a c I, 326 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 1: a operative, and a black belt and so many other 327 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:46,200 Speaker 1: tall tales. What did you think, um, To be honest, 328 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: I didn't really think too much about it, um, because 329 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: and not anything towards Elizabeth. Obviously she got told what 330 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 1: she got told. But there are it is a very 331 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: small school, and there are a lot of of rumors 332 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: and suspicions and jokes to get many We made jokes 333 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: about one of our other teachers being in CIA. I 334 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 1: mean it was That's how I took it. I thought 335 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: maybe somebody made it up as a joke, you know. 336 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 1: Like I said, I didn't believe that he was who 337 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: he is, so I didn't believe that he would make 338 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 1: up all this crazy stuff about himself. But you know, 339 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: obviously he is lied about a lot of things. So 340 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: what else do you think he's lying about? I mean, 341 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: the entire person that he is. You know he's not, 342 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: do you not, Tad Commons? He's not. You know, this 343 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: guy that was my best friend in high school, he 344 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: lied about all of it. He lied about who he 345 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:42,679 Speaker 1: was for who knows how long. Like you don't just 346 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: wake up one day and decide if you want to 347 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: be with a fifteen year old, especially after looking back 348 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 1: at all the stuff that happened with me years before. 349 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 1: When you say best friends, did your parents everything it 350 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 1: was on your best friend was a grown man teaching 351 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: at high school, we didn't at the time. My mom 352 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: didn't live here. She lived, you know, a couple of 353 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 1: states away, and my parents were getting divorced, and my 354 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: mom was just happy, because I was going through a 355 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: really rough time with all of it, that I had 356 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:14,640 Speaker 1: somebody to talk to. Um, because she had heard from 357 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 1: me what Tad was like, and obviously I didn't have 358 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:20,120 Speaker 1: all that great of an intel on who he is, 359 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 1: so she thought, you know, pretty good of him as well. Um. 360 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 1: There were a few you know, of my friends or 361 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: you know, other family members or people I know that 362 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: thought it was weird. Um, And I just didn't listen 363 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:36,640 Speaker 1: to him, you know, I didn't. I didn't never think 364 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:41,400 Speaker 1: anything of it. What did they say, Well, they one 365 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: of the one of them didn't like the fact that 366 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: we you know, everybody calls him by his first name. Um. 367 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: She was a school teacher as well, for an elementary 368 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: school around the area. I don't know which one, and 369 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 1: she you know, she doesn't even do that with her 370 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 1: elementary school kids, let them call her by her first name. 371 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: So she saw that was really weird. And I'm just 372 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: thinking through what you're saying, and it strikes me that 373 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: your mom, your mom wasn't around, she was living in 374 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: a different state. And Elizabeth's mom was gone as well. 375 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 1: And it's interesting how he prays on young girls that 376 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: are going through an emotional time and neither one with 377 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 1: a mother. Do you think that there are other other 378 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 1: girls like yourself and like Elizabeth that he basically groomed 379 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: to be his quote best friend? Um, I think there 380 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: definitely could have been. I know that, you know, nobody 381 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 1: I personally know was as close to Ted as I was. Um. 382 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: I had friends that still talked to him that still 383 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,400 Speaker 1: you know, thought as much as I did of him, 384 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: But nobody, you know, talked to him as much. Nobody 385 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: had gone to church and all that stuff. But that's 386 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: not to say that he wasn't talking to somebody else, 387 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: you know, during the days that I weren't there or 388 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 1: the days of it, you know, stuff like that. There's 389 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: no saying he didn't have another you know, teacher's pet 390 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:06,439 Speaker 1: or favorite and none of the other teachers thought it 391 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: was weird. No, it was a really small school and 392 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 1: everybody was already really tightened it and close anyway, So 393 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 1: you know, we got a new teacher and he was 394 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: the same. We didn't think too much of it. Knowing 395 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 1: him as well as you do. Where do you think 396 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: he is? What do you think his plan is? I definitely, 397 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:31,159 Speaker 1: I really don't know. I really don't think he is 398 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 1: still in the US. Um. You know, they think maybe 399 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 1: he's hiding out in some you know, forests or somewhere. 400 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: But I really think that he thought all of this 401 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: through to the point that he did, and he has 402 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 1: done some really some some not good things obviously, but 403 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:51,360 Speaker 1: he's taking precautions to protect himself. I think that they're 404 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 1: probably gone. I'm not saying that in a bad way, 405 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: you know. I'm really wanting her to come home. That's 406 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 1: all I want out of any of this is for 407 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,959 Speaker 1: her to be home with her family. But I know 408 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 1: that he has done a whole lot to cover his 409 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: tracks and keep them both safe. Like the draft emails 410 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 1: and stuff like that. He knew what he was doing. 411 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: Wow with me. As Destiny Parrish, who endured a friendship 412 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: of sorts with the tag Commons, tag Commins now wanted, 413 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: and the kidnap of his student Elizabeth Thomas. Destiny, you're 414 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: a very lucky young lady, and I want to thank 415 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 1: you for being with us absolutely. Thank you so much 416 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,399 Speaker 1: again for having me, and thank you also to crime 417 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: Con who's making our podcast possible today. Go to crime 418 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:46,159 Speaker 1: con dot com to find out about this convergence of 419 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 1: crime busters and crime sleuths going down in June June nine, 420 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: and remember to use the code Nancy for off when 421 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: you're playing your trip. I hope I see you there, 422 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 1: Destiny again. I can't thank you enough for talking to us, 423 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 1: and it gives me a real insight and how into 424 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 1: how Elizabeth got sucked into Tad Cummins lies and all 425 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: the other teachers just apparently, uh didn't notice. Hi, everybody, 426 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: Nancy Grace here with crime stories and with me special guests. 427 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: The elected district attorney joining us from Tennessee, Brent Cooper. 428 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: Brent was just telling us about how at the beginning, 429 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 1: when they first issued the Amber alert, he was thinking, Hey, 430 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not sure about this. For all I know, 431 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:35,199 Speaker 1: they're just off fishing. Boy, what did you do the 432 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: right thing and issuing that Amber alert even though you 433 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 1: knew Cummins and thought, man, he couldn't possibly have done this. 434 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 1: You did your duty and you issued that alert having 435 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 1: no idea that we would be this far into it 436 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 1: and no sign of the kidnapped girl. Elizabeth Thomas Brent, 437 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 1: what's your theory on where they've gone? So obvious that, uh, 438 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 1: you know, this was well thought out, very well planned. Um, 439 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:06,199 Speaker 1: and I think as as every day goes by, the 440 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 1: chances that they're actually in the in the States are 441 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:13,359 Speaker 1: aren't lower. I just think that by now they would 442 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: have had to have uh come out for uh some supplies, food, something, 443 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: and somebody would have seen them, so uh at this point, 444 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 1: you know, the I guess the theory that I'm leaning 445 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: on is that because he planned this in such a 446 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: way that he had at least a twenty four hour 447 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 1: head start, I believe, you know, he could have gone. 448 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: They made made it straight to the Mexican border, and 449 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: uh went into Mexico, which I believe you can do 450 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:48,200 Speaker 1: without without a passport and really without any without any 451 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 1: any intervention by Mexican authorities, and uh, I think they 452 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:56,680 Speaker 1: made their way into Mexico and probably uh, found a rural, 453 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:01,600 Speaker 1: isolated location there and uh. And another reason I think 454 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 1: that is because you know, his finances were Lamin idiot 455 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: had dollars that we know of, and that would certainly 456 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 1: go a lot, a lot further in Mexico than it 457 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:17,160 Speaker 1: would in the States. So UM, you know that's that's 458 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: one distinct possibility at this point. But you know I 459 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:22,959 Speaker 1: would have I would have said from the beginning that 460 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:27,199 Speaker 1: to three days cops, Uh, they will be they'll be 461 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 1: found with me the Allergted District Attorney Brent Cooper. You know, 462 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: I'm just wondering how they could have slipped across the 463 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 1: border with nobody noticing. And you believe he could be 464 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:45,640 Speaker 1: posing as a missionary in Mexico. Why does that come 465 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: to mind? Well, actually from talking with with his family members. Um, 466 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: you know I knew he was in and his wife 467 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 1: went to church. But apparently he's uh, he's been very 468 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:06,640 Speaker 1: devout Christian and uh that he studied the Bible extensively 469 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,679 Speaker 1: and he may have even had some personal experience before 470 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: going on mission trips with his church. So UM, I 471 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 1: believe that that he was aware of that that culture, 472 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: so to speak. And uh, and I believe he could easily, 473 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: very easily blend in as a as a an American 474 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 1: missionary there, you know, uh to uh to help the 475 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 1: poor people of Mexico and um, you know that certain 476 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: round a role he could fit into. And uh and 477 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: uh in these in the small rural communities in in 478 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 1: Mexico and Central America, Uh, they don't have media coverage 479 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: like we do here. They don't have uh televisions in 480 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 1: every room, and they don't have the Internet in a 481 00:27:57,560 --> 00:28:00,199 Speaker 1: lot of cases. And uh it would be a lot 482 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 1: more easy for them to remain unnoticed there than than here. Wow. 483 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,919 Speaker 1: Now you believe he's gone on mission trips to Mexico before? 484 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 1: What region? I don't know any specific region. But after 485 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 1: the meetings we had, I was I was of the 486 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 1: belief that he had gone on at least one trip before. 487 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:28,679 Speaker 1: And and it's it's it's common in this area for 488 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:32,959 Speaker 1: churches to send church members, you know, took places like 489 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 1: that on mission trips you know. Oh, yes, very common 490 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: in my Methodist church back home and making there, we 491 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 1: send out missionaries all the time. I mean I've been 492 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 1: on missionships myself. Um, particularly after Katrina, I went for 493 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:52,959 Speaker 1: a long time to re help rebuild following Katrina. And 494 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: that was through my my Methodist church up in New York. 495 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: So it's a very common for you know, churches here 496 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: to send out missionaries and the church puts the bill 497 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: and sends you and tries to help people. Um, in fact, 498 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 1: are another church I tend just sent out a whole 499 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: fleet of people to Uganda to work. And you know 500 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: it's but I could see what you're saying that he 501 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 1: uses that knowledge from a previous church mission trip, knows 502 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 1: his way around, that's where he will go naturally, wouldn't 503 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 1: you think definitely that's a possibility. And uh, that's why 504 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:37,400 Speaker 1: you know I've I've asked for uh, you know, churches 505 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: in the area, especially his church to h You know, 506 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: when you when you go on those mission trips, when 507 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 1: you come back, you still you've made contacts there, and 508 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: you know, I would encourage them to reach out to 509 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: their contacts in that in that part of the world 510 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: where they've gone on missions before and uh and spread 511 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 1: the word, you know, email them the Amber alert flyer. Well, 512 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: what role with the FBI play in that, Brent? Wouldn't 513 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:10,960 Speaker 1: the FBI be working on the Mexico issue they you know, right, 514 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: as of now, they they have passed the the Amber 515 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: alert has been spread to the authorities in Mexico. But 516 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: you know how much publicity it's gotten, if any, down there, 517 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:28,880 Speaker 1: I don't know. Uh. And whether or not it's been 518 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 1: as widely talked about there as it has been here, 519 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 1: you know, I doubt it. But um, you know, we're 520 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: just anyway we can think of to get to get 521 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 1: the word out down there. We certainly want to. Well, 522 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:47,479 Speaker 1: I'm just wondering if I mean, for instance, do you 523 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:51,160 Speaker 1: know if the FBI was doing licensed grap tag tag 524 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:55,760 Speaker 1: grabs along the interstates to see if they're tag showed up? Oh? Yeah, 525 00:30:55,960 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 1: we were. We were doing that, you know, starting day one. Um, 526 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 1: you know the we we sent out of course the 527 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 1: tag information and and and I know that all the 528 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 1: highway patrols that have those tag readers were you have 529 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:16,320 Speaker 1: them programmed in uh so that you know, if they 530 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 1: got a hit on that number, it would it would 531 00:31:19,280 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 1: alert them as to what's going on. Wow, So your 532 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: best bet is that Tad Cummins is posing as a 533 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:30,920 Speaker 1: missionary in Mexico. I'm really surprised Elizabeth has not tried 534 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:34,600 Speaker 1: to reach any of her siblings or her dad, right, 535 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:39,120 Speaker 1: And that's that's probably the most surprising part is that 536 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 1: you know, a fifteen year old girl hasn't reached out 537 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:47,120 Speaker 1: to you know, a sister or brother, uh to our 538 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 1: knowledge and uh and just to let them know if 539 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 1: nothing else, just let him know she's okay. And that's 540 00:31:55,200 --> 00:32:01,320 Speaker 1: that's uh, you know, somewhat concerning also that that hasn't happen. Allen, 541 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: you want to jump in. Do you think, sir, that 542 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 1: they are that you are closing in on him? Are 543 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 1: you any closer than you were a couple of weeks ago? 544 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 1: Or what? Does this look like it's going into the 545 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: long haul? I think there's a certainly a kind of 546 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 1: a peak period, um that we've probably already passed, where 547 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:24,120 Speaker 1: where this case has been talked about and and the 548 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: information is being shared. But I think every day that 549 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 1: that more people find out about them and see their 550 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 1: picture and see that tag number, I think, you know, 551 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: that's one way that things are closed. Again. The more 552 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 1: people that know about him, the the lesser the possibility 553 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,800 Speaker 1: is that they're gonna go unnoticed. So but I do 554 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:51,600 Speaker 1: think the every with every day that goes by, that interest, 555 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: you know, starts to drop a little bit, and especially 556 00:32:55,880 --> 00:33:02,800 Speaker 1: with with no new news to uh to revitalize the story, 557 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, we're I'm surprised that it's still 558 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:08,760 Speaker 1: getting their attention. It is, and I'm really glad and 559 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:13,160 Speaker 1: grateful that it is, so that we can keep people 560 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:16,320 Speaker 1: talking about it, and we can't keep it on people's minds, 561 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:20,880 Speaker 1: so they'll they'll continue to look forward. Well, one of 562 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 1: the remarkable things about this story, and Nancy and I 563 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:25,640 Speaker 1: have covered so many of these, is how much we're 564 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:28,760 Speaker 1: finding out about how crazy this guy was and what 565 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 1: he was telling his his students. A few minutes ago, 566 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:34,040 Speaker 1: one of his former students told us that he told 567 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 1: students in class that he was a medical doctor who 568 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:40,680 Speaker 1: simply retired from his medical profession and because he wanted 569 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:44,680 Speaker 1: to teach high school. Have you heard that? I hadn't 570 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:48,560 Speaker 1: heard that particular story, but I heard numerous other ones. 571 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 1: You know, we're you know, he's certainly uh building this 572 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:57,920 Speaker 1: uh this Spanish white white what other stories? What other stories? 573 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 1: He told that he was former FBI and his former CIA, 574 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:09,480 Speaker 1: and that he had millions of dollars stashed away. And 575 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 1: I think he even told some kids that he had 576 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:18,440 Speaker 1: properties in different countries and and mansions and things like that. 577 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: And it's just to me the stories Groves constantly apparently 578 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:26,359 Speaker 1: or did while he was well he was teaching. Did 579 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 1: you hear that song that he sang to us fourteen 580 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:31,520 Speaker 1: year old student a few years ago? Did you hear 581 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:33,840 Speaker 1: that happy? I did hear part of that? Were you 582 00:34:33,840 --> 00:34:37,719 Speaker 1: impressed with this musical ability or what did you think 583 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:40,919 Speaker 1: of that? Sir? That's not what impressed me. Alan, That's 584 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:43,719 Speaker 1: not what impressed me about that. Hey, I gotta ask 585 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:47,320 Speaker 1: you something, Brent. Question guys for those of you joining 586 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:50,319 Speaker 1: us now on our podcast here at Crime Stories with me, 587 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 1: is he elected d A out of Tennessee on the 588 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Thomas case? You know, he he just jarred my memory. 589 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:01,360 Speaker 1: On one of his other tall tales, he told that 590 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 1: he had like a safe house and I believe he 591 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:10,239 Speaker 1: said Costa Rica where when things got too hot, oh, Honduras, Yes, 592 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 1: when things got too hot in the US. You know. 593 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 1: I know that's a big fat lie. I know that, 594 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:21,800 Speaker 1: but it does give you a window into his thinking. 595 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,400 Speaker 1: I should have thought of that before. If he's talking 596 00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:30,040 Speaker 1: about leaving the country for a venue like Honduras when 597 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:33,680 Speaker 1: things got to quote hot in the US. That's exactly 598 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:37,600 Speaker 1: what he's trying to do. That's his fantasy and that's 599 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:43,920 Speaker 1: what he's living out. If that would certainly complicated matters, 600 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:46,920 Speaker 1: if that's what his manners to do, Yeah, I don't 601 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:50,480 Speaker 1: think he'd easily. I got a bad, failing brand. I'm 602 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:53,520 Speaker 1: just afraid that if he's cornered and he has nothing 603 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:56,560 Speaker 1: left to lose, lost his wife, his family, his job. 604 00:35:57,960 --> 00:35:59,799 Speaker 1: I know he's got two guns, and it just keeps 605 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:04,960 Speaker 1: anything my head. If if it's not handled just the 606 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:07,759 Speaker 1: right way, this could turn into a murder suicide in 607 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 1: a heartbeat. And that's what I don't want for this 608 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:12,040 Speaker 1: little girl. I feel like she just never had a 609 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:16,480 Speaker 1: chance with that mother and everything in her life, and 610 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:18,840 Speaker 1: now this for Pete's sake. And you know it was 611 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:22,680 Speaker 1: interesting Brent, the other little girl, the Destiny Parish girl 612 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:25,080 Speaker 1: that he was singing that love song too. You know 613 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:27,520 Speaker 1: her mother was out of the picture to her mother 614 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:30,239 Speaker 1: was living in another state during a divorce, and she 615 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:33,759 Speaker 1: was motherless. I mean, he really focuses it in on 616 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:36,560 Speaker 1: children that are the most vulnerable. They really don't have 617 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:41,080 Speaker 1: anybody helping them, and I just hate it, hate it, Okay, 618 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:46,320 Speaker 1: Nancy Grace Crime Stories signing off again. Thank you crime 619 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:49,560 Speaker 1: Con for sponsoring us today. Go to crime con dot 620 00:36:49,600 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 1: com to get your off code word Nancy to register 621 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:59,239 Speaker 1: for this big convergence of crime busters and crime sleuths. 622 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:04,480 Speaker 1: In g June, Nancy Grace Crime Stories signing off. Goodbye friend,