Nationwide BOLO issued for Tennessee teen possibly taken by teacher

COLUMBIA, Tenn. — A nationwide BOLO has been issued after a teen girl that has been missing since Monday after “an alarmingly low” number of leads in an Amber Alert issued in Tennessee and Alabama.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) have been looking for a 15-year-old girl they said was taken by her teacher, 50-year-old Tad Cummins, since Monday. The TBI says they remain "extremely concerned" for the safety of the teen. The following was released earlier today:

"Investigative efforts have revealed a troubling pattern of behavior by Tad Cummins, suggesting 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 TBI said Elizabeth Thomas was last seen Monday morning at 8 a.m. at Shoney's in Columbia, Tennessee after a friend dropped her off.

Agents said they learned at 3:06 p.m. on Monday that Thomas was in Decatur, Alabama. TBI says, Cummins will now face a charge connected to an alleged sexual interaction between himself and Thomas at the school where he taught and she was a student.

The school district suspended Cummins when the allegations surfaced and fired him Tuesday.

The TBI was able to determine Cummins secured a title loan for a personal vehicle leading up to his disappearance and got $4,500 in cash.

>>RELATED: TBI Update on missing teen, Elizabeth Thomas

If you have seen either of them, call 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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15-year-old white female

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Blonde hair

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Hazel eyes

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5’5”

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120 lbs.

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She was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and black leggings.

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50-year-old white male

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6’0”

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Approx. 200 lbs.

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Brown hair

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Brown eyes

Cummins is believed to be armed with two handguns and driving a silver Nissan Rogue with Tennessee tag 976-ZPT.

The TBI says they were able to develop the following timeline:

Approx. 7:30-7:45 AM CST:

A friend of Elizabeth Thomas dropped Thomas off at the Shoney’s in Columbia, Tennessee.

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 Thomas in the area of Decatur, Alabama.

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.

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.

Cox Media Group