1 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,079 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Thomas was brand new to the Coloca School in 2 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: Murray County. She started as a freshman this year, entering 3 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: the public school system for the very first time. Confustigators 4 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: say that she is with Tad Commons to the autos, 5 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: that Cummins was a teacher. A student reported seeing Cummins 6 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: kissing Elizabeth in his classroom in late January. Cummins told 7 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: two students he's a father figure to Elizabeth. He saw 8 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: her as a close and best friend. She's fifteen, he's fifteen. 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:39,160 Speaker 1: This is Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Police arrested Elizabeth's mom, 10 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: Kimberly Thomas, last year. They charged her with five counts 11 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: of child abuse and neglect. If a person was looking 12 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: for a teenager that could be easily inflowing, I would 13 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: say she would be worn. That would definitely attract the consoles. 14 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: There are constant changes and updates, twists and turns, and 15 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: the ace of the missing a schoolgirl, Elizabeth Thomas, kidnapped 16 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: by her fifty year old health science teacher, Tad Cummins. Married. 17 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to Crime Stories. I'mancy Grace. I want to thank 18 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 1: you for being with us today. We are joined by 19 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: very special guest. The elected district attorney in Columbia, Tennessee 20 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: who was overseeing this investigation, Brent Cooper, is joining us 21 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 1: before we get started on the very latest, I want 22 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: to thank our response or crime con. Prime Con is 23 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: going down in Indianapolis June nine through June eleven at 24 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: the JW. Marriott. Crime Busters and crime sluse professionals and 25 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: amateurs are converging for the latest and crime fighting crime 26 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: Sluice professional and amateurs all converging in Indianapolis for crime con. 27 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: Can find out all about it at crime online dot 28 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: com and for another twenty in off plug in the 29 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: code Nancy. In fact, I'm really registering to get my 30 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: twenty off. Joining us right now from Columbia, Tennessee is 31 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: the elected district attorney who was in charge of all 32 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: the prosecutions in that jurisdiction, Brent Cooper, Mr Cooper, thank 33 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 1: you for being with us. Jure, It's my pleasure. You 34 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: know you are in the eye of the storm right now. Uh. 35 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: In the last hours, as a matter of fact, there 36 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: has been an alleged sighting of Elizabeth in Corpus Christi, Texas. 37 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: What can you tell us about that? Oh? I know 38 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: at this point is that law enforcement responded to a 39 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:42,119 Speaker 1: location where someone had reported a possible sighting of them 40 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: or the vehicle. By the time the officers arrived, the 41 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: vehicle and and the people were gone, Oh great, we 42 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: just had an AMBER alert. You just got an amber alert. 43 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: Right now, we're having an amber that's the noise you 44 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: hear on my phone. So the ivan and Corpus Christie 45 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:05,239 Speaker 1: hasn't been ruled out yet. The people left before it 46 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: could be investigated. What was the sign was that a 47 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 1: man and a girl or one of them? Were they 48 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 1: still in the silver Nathan? What I was told was 49 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: that they had seen possibly seen him, Uh, and the vehicle. 50 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: I don't think it was a signing of her. But 51 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: like I said, but by the time the officers arrived, 52 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: the person in the vehicle we're gone. It's my understanding 53 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: now that the local law enforcement there's and they're in 54 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: the process of collecting any any video evidence that may 55 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: have been obtained at the store or in any of 56 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: the locations around where they were seen. I believe it 57 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: was some type of gas station or convenience store. Uh 58 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: do you believe do you believe Mr Cooper that they 59 00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: are still in his Nissan Road. Uh, I would be 60 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: shocked as they are too. I don't think, yeah, I 61 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: mean it would be Uh, that would be a pretty 62 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: amateur move if there's if there stool in it and 63 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: you know this, Uh, the fact that we've had no 64 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: credible sightings leads me to believe that the vehicle and 65 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: them or pretty much out of sight somewhere. And that's 66 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: what I think because he went through such meticulous planning. 67 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: You know, he picked today when now that students were 68 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: not supposed to be in school that right that day? Right, 69 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: wasn't it like a teacher development day or something? I 70 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: believe so I haven't hadn't heard that, but that could be. 71 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: That could be accurate. And if that's true, that means 72 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,160 Speaker 1: her parents, her father would not have really known that 73 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 1: she was gone till three o'clock in the afternoon when 74 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 1: she didn't get back. So he did all research, according 75 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: to sources, about could his Nissan be tracked, you know 76 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: like U tracking the car be ex serious. Yeah, it 77 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: was definitely planned out to where, um, they had a 78 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: several hour head start before before anyone realized they were 79 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: they were missing. Why did you say that? Because he 80 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 1: had he was supposed to be going to a job 81 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: interview that morning, and of course, uh she Uh she 82 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: had a friend drop her off around eight thirty am Monday. Uh. 83 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: I think the last time his wife saw him was 84 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: before eight o'clock that morning, and uh, she believed he 85 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: would be going to a job interview that day, and uh, 86 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 1: you know it wasn't until Uh, I don't think the 87 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 1: I don't think. Uh. Elizabeth's mother, our parents, our father, 88 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, reported her missing until either late that night 89 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: or early the next morning. Uh. And then it wasn't 90 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: until eight o'clock or so the next day, so almost 91 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 1: twenty four hours after uh they met up before we 92 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: knew that Mr Cummins was also missing. What did he 93 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: do you believe he really had a job interview or 94 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 1: does he just tell his wife that? Oh no, he didn't. 95 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: It was it was completely made up? Heyn. What do 96 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 1: you think about all this story? He reportedly told Elizabeth 97 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: about being a c I, a operative and a millionaire 98 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: and a black belt in karate for Pete's sake, Oh no, 99 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: and apparently he had Uh he tells all of his 100 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 1: students those those stories. And uh, uh is the impression 101 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: I've gotten is that he's really created, uh, an alternate 102 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 1: persona for the students he has, and of this life 103 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: that he never led with the CIA and the FBI 104 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: and things like that, and and all that goes into, uh, 105 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: the the mental coercion who was using on her. You know, 106 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: this is a a fifty year old authority figure in 107 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: this girl's life, a fifteen year old girl that's this 108 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: looks like she's had a pretty rough upbringing, and uh, 109 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: and he's telling her all these wild tales about himself 110 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: and really building him so building himself up to be 111 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: something he's not. And we believe that all of that 112 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: went into the persuasion to convince her to to leave 113 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: with him. You know that really is even scarier now 114 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: that I'm hearing that, because this guy can flat out 115 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: and tell a lie, look you right in the face, 116 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: and stone cold lie to you. So that's going to 117 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: help him alluding police. You mentioned that Elizabeth had had 118 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: a very difficult upbringing. I've read about the alleged charges 119 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: against her mother and they sounded awful. And uh, those 120 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: charges are you know, my office is is prosecuting those 121 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: charges and and um, you know they're still pending at 122 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: this time. So I can't talk a lot about them, 123 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: but you know the allegations are they sound terrible? The 124 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: allegations do, and and you know as well as I do, 125 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: that before abuse has ever reported, it usually it's been 126 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: going on for for quite a while. According to statistics, 127 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: every time an incident in child abuts reported, it has 128 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: happened statistically dozens and dozens of times before. So I 129 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: can't think that because there are no other claims against 130 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: her that we know of other than these, and they 131 00:08:55,280 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: haven't been proven yet. But according to the numbers, child 132 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: to be has happened in any time before it's reported. 133 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: I mean children, is that correct? This lady like ten children. Yes, 134 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: that's my understanding. Now at least one of them has grown, 135 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: has left the home as an adult now and has 136 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: moved out. But but yeah, it's my understanding. There are 137 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: ten children. And so what do you really think, Brent? 138 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:27,959 Speaker 1: Where do you think he's had it? At first, I 139 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: thought he might be headed towards the Panhandle, because if 140 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: you look at the social media, you see pictures that 141 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: look very much like it's a Gulf Shores type area. 142 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,719 Speaker 1: But now I'm thinking he's trying to put as much 143 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 1: distance between himself and Columbia as possible. That's what I 144 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: would believe that, Uh, you know, he's gotten as far 145 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: away as he can with her. And you know, the 146 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,599 Speaker 1: biggest concern and is the most concerning thing, is is 147 00:09:55,720 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 1: that apparently, uh Elizabeth told one of her siblings was 148 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 1: that day, either the day before or that morning, told 149 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: them if I'm not back by six o'clock tonight. We've 150 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: heard it. Either she either said call the police or 151 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: come looking for me. I read that the seventeen year 152 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:22,559 Speaker 1: old sister Sarah. That now see makes me think that 153 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: she did not plan to be away. I mean, we're 154 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 1: any of her clothes missing from the home to so 155 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 1: she had packed a bag. Now, she did take clothes 156 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,319 Speaker 1: with her, so that kind of contradicts that. But we 157 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: do believe she told her sister that, So she may 158 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: have she may have been on the fence about about 159 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 1: going with Mr Cummings and didn't she been a little 160 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 1: friend That could have explained why some of her clothes 161 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:54,559 Speaker 1: were gone. Well that's true, but I think, uh, I 162 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 1: think she had more than one bag of clothes, if 163 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: I if I remember correctly. So that's was saying because 164 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 1: in that picture and that surmillance picture of her, she 165 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: only has one armful of stuff. Yeah, uh, well, I 166 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: think for some reason, I believe they said she left 167 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: one bag at Showny's uh where she met him. So uh, 168 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: it's really um, you know, my fear, my biggest fear, 169 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: is that she had changed her mind about going with 170 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:31,199 Speaker 1: Mr Cummins and that she expressed that to him and 171 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: he took her then forcefully. You know. Uh, we don't 172 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 1: know that, and we certainly hope it's not the case. 173 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: But well, I mean, at this point, he's already done. 174 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: I always say, Mr Caper, when you don't know a horse, 175 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,560 Speaker 1: look at his track record. He's already acting irrationally. He's 176 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: already broken the law. So why would we have take 177 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 1: him to do anything different now than what he's already done. 178 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: You know that bag you mentioned that Showny You mean 179 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: she had a bag there and she took it with 180 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: her or she left a bag there. Well, what I 181 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: understand was when she was dropped off, she had two bags, 182 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:13,319 Speaker 1: and when when the authorities went to Shawnees after she 183 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: was reported missing, I think Shawne's had recovered one bag 184 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: where they had found one bag on their property. Um 185 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: that she had left there for some reason. That's really interesting. 186 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,559 Speaker 1: If she had packed this bag to take with her, 187 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: why is she leaving at show? Yeah? I know, and 188 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: I mean I don't know. I haven't inquired into what 189 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,559 Speaker 1: the contents of it are. For all I know, that 190 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 1: could be the dirty clothes she wore, uh the night 191 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: before at her friend's house. I don't know. But what 192 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 1: charges is he looking at right now? He's charged with 193 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: a misdemeanor, which is called sexual contact with a minor 194 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: by an authority figure. Uh, And that covers contact such 195 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: as kissing someone kissing a minor that's an authority figure, 196 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: and you know the kisses obviously not just to peck 197 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: on the cheek. Uh. The other charges aggravated kidnapping and uh, 198 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: that's for unlawfully removing her and having firearms in his 199 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: possession when that occurs. How do you know he's got 200 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: fire arms? I've read that he had to Uh, that's 201 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 1: his His wife initially reported that he took two handguns 202 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: with him that they were missing. M M. Do you 203 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: think that this has the potential of ending like in 204 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: a Romeo Juliet scenario where he's like, if I we 205 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: can't live together, we're both gonna die. I mean, now 206 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: that I know he's got the guns and he's making 207 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: up these crazy stories, do you think he could do 208 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: something like that rather than get caught. I mean, you've 209 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,959 Speaker 1: got nothing to lose. Well, I mean, I wouldn't think so. 210 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,959 Speaker 1: And of course we we absolutely hope that's not the case. 211 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: But uh, that's always a fear, uh in these certainly situations. 212 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: But how could he be living this long? Four dollars well, uh, 213 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: you know will go a lot further in some areas 214 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: that it will, say, for instance, in Los Angeles, but 215 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: you know, we definitely don't expect that money will last 216 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: very long. Um, you know, if they're having to obviously 217 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: having to uh pay for food and shelter some way, Um, 218 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: and uh they it will run out at some point, 219 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: Oh yeah it will. And then what are they gonna do? Uh? 220 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: Do you think I FI whether could it be pained? Uh? 221 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: We've tried that. We uh you know, we we have 222 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: If either of their phones are turned on, we should 223 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: know about that immediately. U. But so I doubt their 224 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: phones are with them because we haven't had any activity 225 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: on either one of them, and uh, you know that's 226 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: that's been a complete debt end As far as tracking 227 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: their phone, is that how you got Alabama? There was 228 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: a ping Uh the very first day there was a 229 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: ping indicator. But um it could have been um where 230 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: the tower was located, was close enough to the interstate, 231 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: it could have been while they were driving through right, 232 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: you know, or or if he's really if you're really clever, 233 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: he could have thrown her phone on the on the 234 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: back of a tractor trailer. You know. I hadn't thought 235 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: about that. Do you say close enough to any of 236 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: her siblings or friends that she's gonna want to contact them? 237 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: I think so? And uh, you know, fifteen year old 238 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: girls typically, uh, when they're close to someone, they're gonna 239 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: want to talk to that person. And we believe that 240 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 1: she is close to her siblings. Uh, she wasn't really 241 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: and she hadn't been in public school before this year, 242 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: so she probably didn't have any close friendships in school. 243 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: But we think she she is close to her siblings, 244 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: and we hope that she'll reach out to them. What 245 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: is your message, Tad coming? Just uh, you know, as 246 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: I've said from the beginning, that the only way this 247 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: can get better, uh, and for him to reclaim any 248 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: of his life. As for him to to right now 249 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: pick up the phone and call someone, don't even you 250 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: don't even have to call law enforcement. Call your wife. 251 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 1: You know, she's she's worried about you. Uh, and uh, 252 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: let us know where you are, uh and are if 253 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 1: nothing else, if you're not going to greet anything else, 254 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 1: don't hurt Elizabeth and let her go. Just let us 255 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 1: know where she is. You know, you brought up Jill 256 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: Cummins and she I don't think had any idea any 257 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: of this is going on. No, she didn't. And and 258 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: you know, I'm like, you're you're a former prosecutor, right. Uh, 259 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: you've talked to you've talked to family members who've lost 260 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:34,119 Speaker 1: loved ones to violent crimes, and you know, unexpectedly. Uh 261 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: that's the that's the way she comes across to me. 262 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: I feel so bad for that lady. Oh no, that's terrible. 263 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 1: I was looking at Elizabeth post on social media and 264 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: she changed her status to wife. That's scary. Yeah, it is. 265 00:17:55,920 --> 00:18:00,200 Speaker 1: He's got this girl so brainwashed. Mm hmm. And we 266 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: know we know he had done research about the teen 267 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: marriage uh too, so yeah, they were Google searchers. He 268 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: had gonne you know, researching the age of consent in 269 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 1: different states. M m M, Well, I believe Georgia and 270 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: Delaware you can't get married under the age of consent 271 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: without parental approval if you're pregnant. And I pray that's 272 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: not real. Yeah, well he've been filled. That's neat because 273 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: he's married. He can't get married anywhere to anybody pregnant 274 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: or not because he's already married. Oh, that's another crime 275 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 1: if he did that, right, if you think of another Yeah, 276 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: do you think there were any warnings that he would 277 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: do something like that? No, you know, there wasn't any warnings, 278 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: and that's why it was. It really just called everyone 279 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: so off guard. Um. I actually went to went to 280 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: high school with Mr Cummins. Well, he was, yeah, you know, 281 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just we grew up in the same 282 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 1: small town and U I know him. I know him, 283 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 1: and I know his sister, and uh, you know, no, 284 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: this this never, this is not something I would have 285 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 1: ever seen coming. And uh, in fact, the day we 286 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,440 Speaker 1: realized they were both missing, I was I was a 287 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 1: little bit hesitant to to request an amber alert because 288 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 1: I thought there was a possibility that we would issue 289 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: an amber alert. And you know, the the alarm would 290 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: sound and and his picture would be plastered everywhere, and 291 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: then we would find out that he was at the mall, 292 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: uh you know, or that he was just somewhere, you know, 293 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 1: doing something and harmless. And and here we had embarrassed 294 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: his family and him. But but of course now we 295 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 1: know that's not the case. And uh, in hindsight, I'm 296 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 1: glad we we asked for the amber alert where we did. Yeah, 297 00:19:56,240 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: because from what everyone says, everyone he knew, Um, god, 298 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 1: he needs a great guy would never have done that. Yeah, 299 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: that really speaks a lot about your character. Tell you 300 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 1: the truth that you really waited before you issued the 301 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:15,239 Speaker 1: amber alert, but then in the end realized you had 302 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: to do it because you did not want to sully 303 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: his reputation if it were wrong. And I'm just thinking, 304 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: I said, this is not who you are. What what's 305 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: happening right? Right? So? Well, you are swamped, Brent and 306 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: Mr Cooper. I can't thank you enough for speaking to us. 307 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: It means a lot to me to hear it from you, 308 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: to hear your voice and know that you're on it 309 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: and that you care about it, and it needs a 310 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: lot to you as well. Pray for the best. Yeah, 311 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: thank you for that. And we appreciate this, the attention 312 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: you're paying this because we need we need as many 313 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: people to know about it as possible. Yes, sir, thank you, sir, 314 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 1: Thank you again. I want to thank crime Con for 315 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: sponsoring our podcast today and helping us spread the word 316 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: about missing school girl Elizabeth Thomas. Nancy Grace Crime Stories 317 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 1: signing off, the search goes on. Goodbye friend.