Amber Alerts have been issued in Tennessee and Alabama for a 15-year-old girl believed to be with a former teacher who police say is armed and dangerous.Elizabeth Thomas was last seen around 8:00 a.m. Monday at a Shoney's restaurant in Columbia, Tenn., after being dropped off by a friend, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. At a press briefing Thursday, investigators say the investigation reveals a “troubling pattern of behavior” by Cummins, suggesting he 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 TBI has been able to develop the following timeline of the events placing Cummins and Thomas in the same vicinity just prior to their disappearance on Monday:

APPROXIMATELY 7:30-7:45 AM CST: A friend of Elizabeth Thomas dropped Thomas off at the Shoney’s in Columbia, Tennessee. She was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and black leggings.She is believed to be in the custody of the 50-year-old Cummins, a white male, who stands 6’, weighs approximately 200 pounds, and has brown hair and eyes. Police said Cummins has brown hair, brown eyes, is 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds.Cummins is believed to be armed with two handguns and driving a silver Nissan Rogue with Tennessee tag 976-ZPT, police said.Investigators said they were able to place Thomas in Decatur, Ala., at around 3:00 p.m. Monday afternoon. A warrant has been issued for Cummins for sexual contact with a minor.Since issuing the AMBER Alert at approximately 6 p.m. CST Tuesday, the TBI has received approximately 120 leads. Having last been seen on Monday morning, the individuals could be anywhere, it was stated.Ongoing investigative efforts indicate Elizabeth Thomas was last seen on Monday at approximately 8 a.m. at the Shoney’s in Columbia, Tn., after being dropped off there by a friend. I hope this young girl is rescued safely and this old man ends up behind bars​.”

The last picture uploaded on what appears to be Cummins account is an image saying “It’s a beautiful day to start.”

That post was made three days ago, the same day Thomas was reported missing. Investigators can place Thomas in Decatur, Ala., at approximately 3:06 CST on Monday afternoon, though neither individual has a known connection there and may have just been passing through the area.The TBI has been able to develop the following timeline of the events placing Cummins and Ms. Thomas in the same vicinity just prior to their disappearance on Monday:APPROXIMATELY 7:30-7:45 AM CST: A friend of Elizabeth Thomas dropped her off at the Shoney’s in Columbia.8:32 AM CST: Surveillance video appears to show Tad Cummins at the nearby Shell station, fueling his Nissan Rogue.12:41 PM CST: The Maury County Sheriff’s Department entered the child as ‘missing’ in NCIC, the nation’s law enforcement internal communications database.3:06 PM CST: Information places Ms. Thomas in the area of Decatur, Ala.Tuesday, March 14:3:49 PM CST: The Maury County Sheriff’s Department officially requested an alert.4:18 PM CST: TBI issued an Endangered Child Alert.4:49 PM CST: The Maury County Sheriff’s Department secures the warrant for Cummins, charging him with one count of sexual contact with a minor.5:53 PM CST: Due to the warrant being placed against Cummins, TBI upgraded its alert to an AMBER Alert.On Wednesday, 22nd District Attorney General Brent Cooper confirmed the details of the incident for which Cummins now faces a charge is connected to an alleged interaction between Cummins and Ms. Thomas at the school where he taught and where she was a student. The school district suspended Cummins when the allegations surfaced and terminated his employment Tuesday.As part of its investigative work, the TBI continues to embark on an effort to understand the action of Cummins in the weeks leading up to the AMBER Alert. To that end, the TBI would like to hear from anyone who may have had an interaction with either individual prior to their disappearance.The TBI would urge the public to remain vigilant and report any information that may prove beneficial in the ongoing search to 1-800-TBI-FIND. If you spot the vehicle and can verify the license plate to be TN 976-ZPT, call 911.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation becomes involved in the search for Elizabeth Thomas and the manhunt for her suspected kidnapper, Tad Cummins.