BREAKING NEWS

Tennessee police hunt former teacher accused of kidnapping student

By REUTERS

MARCH 18, 2017 20:52

Tennessee police are searching for a former high school teacher accused of luring a 15-year-old student into his car outside of a restaurant and disappearing with the girl earlier this week, investigators said on Saturday.

Tad Cummins, 50, who is believed to be armed with two hand guns, was placed on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's top 10 "most wanted" list on Friday on charges of aggravate kidnapping and having sexual contact with a minor.

Cummings, who is married, was fired from his Maurey County high school teaching job on Tuesday after being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with student Beth Thomas, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.

"The 50-year-old may have been abusing his role as a teacher to groom this vulnerable young girl for some time in an effort to lure and potentially sexually exploit her," the bureau said.

Thomas was last seen on Monday just before 8 a.m. CT when a friend dropped her off at a Shoney's family-style restaurant parking lot in Columbia, Tennessee, a city about 45 miles south of Nashville.

Video surveillance footage shows Cummins fueling up his silver Nissan Rogue at a nearby gas station minutes later, investigators said.

State investigators said they last traced Cummins and Thomas to Alabama, but believe the pair has since traveled to a remote area and are hiding out.

NATO allies will need to spend closer to 3% of GDP on defense

By REUTERS

11/25/2024 12:24 PM

Children in Safed find Mandate-era grenade, sappers called to the scene

By ELI ASHKENAZI

11/25/2024 11:53 AM

Rocket fired from northern Gaza falls in open area

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

11/25/2024 11:52 AM

Ukraine's air force says it downed 71 drones during Russia's attack