Elizabeth Thomas and Tad Cummins Update: Second Sighting in Memphis Unconfirmed
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) determined that Tad Cummins and Elizabeth Thomas were not sighted in Collierville, Tennessee on Thursday, March 30.
A tipster called the authorities around 12:30 p.m. CDT on Thursday, saying they believed they saw Cummins at a gas station in Collierville on New Byhalia Road near West Poplar Avenue. Tennessee authorities investigated the lead but could not substantiate the possible sighting of Cummins, the ex-teacher accused of abducting Thomas.
However, the TBI went on to say that it has confirmed that Cummins was not the person spotted at the gas station in Collierville, according to AL.com.
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A second sighting of Cummins and Thomas was reported around mid-afternoon Thursday at Krystal's on Union Avenue in Memphis. According to WKRN, a BOLO — or be-on-the-lookout — was issued for the area's law enforcement after Cummins and Thomas were reportedly sighted walking through the parking lot.
Though the possible sighting at Krystal's has yet to be confirmed or denied by TBI, the Memphis-area BOLO did say that the real owner of white van spotted at the parking lot for several days, which was previously believed to belong to Cummins, has been located and identified.
After 4 p.m. CDT on Thursday, the Thomas family released a statement, which reads in full:
"In light of this new potential sighting, our family is letting law enforcement do their job in following up on this lead so they can bring Elizabeth home with no interference or complication. There has not been a credible lead to this point, and it has been a long two-and-a-half weeks of waiting and wondering. We desperately pray that this sighting is in fact Elizabeth and that law enforcement can safely remove her from this dangerous situation. Please join us in praying for Elizabeth's safe return. Our family will make a statement when Elizabeth is home with us, but until then, we ask for privacy as we communicate and work with law enforcement. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers."
The former Maury County teacher remains the hot subject of an ongoing AMBER Alert for the missing 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas.
People across the state, as well as the entire country, are asked to exercise vigilance and report any information or possible sightings to the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. They may also call the Maury County Sheriff's Office at 931-388-5151.
