A Tennessee teacher and the 15-year-old student he’s accused of kidnapping have both been found in Northern California, according to reports Thursday.
Tad Cummins was busted in Siskiyou County when his car was discovered in the area Wednesday night, according to the Tennessean.
The missing girl, Elizabeth Thomas, was found safe.
“At this time, all we know is she’s apparently healthy and unharmed,” said District Attorney General Brent Cooper at a press conference. “Knowing that, our main concern is how is she mentally and emotionally?”
A tipster called into the TBI hotline Wednesday around 11 p.m. to report that Cummins’ Nissan Rogue was near a cabin in rural Cecilville and that he and Thomas had been living there for at least a week and a half.
The area is so remote, there is limited cell phone service, authorities said.
The car was immediately placed under surveillance by local authorities and Cummins was taken into custody early Thursday morning, according to TBI spokesman Josh DeVine.
“Our intelligence analysts and agents have worked tirelessly since issuing this AMBER Alert to process more than 1,500 leads from all 50 states,” TBI Director Mark Gwyn said in a statement. “What happened in California this morning, however, proves it only takes one person to lead to a successful end. We are extremely thankful the hard work of all partners in this search has paid off. We’re also grateful for the public’s support and vigilance throughout this search effort.”
Cummins is currently in custody and awaiting extradition to Tennessee.
Authorities were en route Thursday afternoon to pick up Thomas and return her to Tennessee via helicopter.
“We are currently working an active incident regarding the kidnapping,” Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kelly Giordano told the Tennessean.
Cummins, 50, who is married and has grandchildren, was wanted on charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor.
Federal prosecutors have also charged him with transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of criminal sexual intercourse. Cummins faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years behind bars on the federal charges alone.
He allegedly researched teen marriage online eight days before he’s accused of abducting Thomas, the TBI previously said.
Thomas was last seen March 13. The two were last spotted two days later in Oklahoma City.
Siskiyou County sits north of Redding, Calif., on the Oregon border.