The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation remains extremely concerned for the well-being of Elizabeth Thomas, the victim in an ongoing AMBER Alerts in Tennessee and Alabama. Though the TBI cannot discuss specifics at this time, 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. 
 
 Thomas is a 15-year-old white female, with blonde hair, hazel eyes, stands 5’5�? and weighs 120 pounds. She was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and black leggings. Thomas is believed to be in the custody of 50-year-old Tad Cummins, a white male, who stands 6’0�?, weighs approximately 200 pounds, and has brown hair and eyes. He is believe to be armed with two handguns and driving a silver Nissan Rogue with Tennessee tag 976-ZPT. A warrant has been issued for Cummins for Sexual Contact with a Minor. 
 
 Since issuing the AMBER Alert at approximately 6:00 CST Tuesday, the TBI has received approximately 120 leads. None has produced any credible sightings about the whereabouts of either individual. Because of the shockingly low number of tips, the TBI has concluded the individuals are likely out of the view of the general public or outside the original net cast across the southeast to notify the public about their disappearance. Having last been seen on Monday morning, the individuals could, frankly, be anywhere. 
 
 Ongoing investigative efforts indicate Thomas was last seen on Monday morning at approximately 8:00 AM at the Shoney’s in Columbia, Tennessee, after being dropped off there by a friend. Her parents reported her as missing later that same day. Investigators can place Thomas in Decatur, Alabama 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 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. 
 
 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. 
 
 Tuesday, March 14th: 
 
 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 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. For example, the TBI has been able to determine Cummins secured a title loan for a personal vehicle and other personal effects several days before his disappearance, netting $4,500 in cash. 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. 
 
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 When you tweet with a location, Twitter stores that location. You can switch location on/off before each Tweet and always have the option to delete your location history. Learn more ||||| The family of a high school freshman who was allegedly kidnapped last week by a former teacher pleaded for her return during a candlelight vigil Saturday night. 
 
 “I want you to come home, because we all love you. I want to see you again,” one of Elizabeth Thomas' sisters said at the vigil in Columbia, Tennessee, according to ABC affiliate WKRN. 
 
 Tennessee authorities are asking for the public's help in their hunt for Tad Cummins, 50, who is accused of kidnapping 15-year-old Elizabeth last Monday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a press release. 
 
 ‘We are going to get her back’: Family pleas for return of missing teen https://t.co/wLqpuas9To — WKRN (@WKRN) March 19, 2017 
 
 Elizabeth's father Anthony remains hopeful she will return home. "We are going to get her back," he said at the vigil, held at Columbia's Riverwalk Park. "We are going to get her back. Please help us bring her home." 
 
 He added, "What Tad did, he stole my daughter from me, but Maury County is a big community. He didn’t just steal from me, he stole from the whole community." 
 
 Cummins was a teacher at Elizabeth's school in Culleoka, Tennessee, until he was fired Tuesday, the TBI said, "in the wake of an ongoing investigation into alleged inappropriate contact he had with [Elizabeth] Thomas at the school earlier this year." 
 
 The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 
 
 The state Bureau of Investigation said in a news release that Cummins "may have been abusing his role as a teacher to groom" the teen for some time, "in an effort to lure and potentially sexually exploit her." 
 
 #TNAMBERAlert: She's a high school freshman. He was a teacher accused of kidnapping her. Let's find her now! UPDATE: https://t.co/55oZs6oD5s pic.twitter.com/hh9I4v3l3y — TBI (@TBInvestigation) March 18, 2017 
 
 The TBI added today that Cummins "potentially planned this abduction prior to Monday." 
 
 Cummins, of Columbia, Tennessee, is wanted on allegations of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor, authorities said. 
 
 The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 
 
 Cummins is believed to have two handguns, and Elizabeth is considered to be "in imminent danger," the state investigative bureau said. 
 
 An Amber Alert has been issued for Elizabeth, and Cummins has been added to the state's "Top 10 Most Wanted" list, authorities said. 
 
 Elizabeth was believed to have been in the Decatur, Alabama, area on Monday, but there have been no credible sightings of Elizbaeth or Cummins since then, authorities said. Neither Elizabeth nor Cummins has been in touch with their families, authorities said 
 
 Cummins' wife, Jill Cummins, made an emotional plea to her husband at a news conference Friday, urging him to turn himself in. 
 
 "I had no idea my husband was involved with anything that has led to all this. My heart breaks for the family of Beth Thomas,” Jill Cummins said. “Tad, this is not you. This is not who you are. We can help you get through this ... Your family wants their poppy back. Please do the right thing and turn yourself into the police and bring Beth home.” 
 
 The TBI said Saturday it has received about 250 tips from 24 states, which it called a low number. 
 
 "Having now been on the run for more than five days, Cummins may have taken her, frankly, anywhere," the TBI said in a news release Saturday. "Nothing investigators have learned about Cummins or his intentions for the young girl since issuing the AMBER Alert calms the imminent concern for Elizabeth’s well-being. In fact, it only heightens it." 
 
 Your RT may just get this information in front of the one person who needs to see it. Help us spread this across the country! Thanks! pic.twitter.com/c5jI8ER816 — TBI (@TBInvestigation) March 17, 2017 
 
 Cummins is described as a white man with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 6 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds. He may be driving a 2015 silver Nissan Rogue with a Tennessee license plate number 976-ZPT. 
 
 NEW PICTURES: Various shots of Ted Cummins in the past few weeks, including the vehicle he's believed to be driving. TN TAG: 976-ZPT. pic.twitter.com/mlrPPlcXoQ — TBI (@TBInvestigation) March 17, 2017 
 
 Elizabeth is described as a white girl with blonde hair, hazel eyes. She is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She was last seen wearing leggings and a flannel shirt. 
 
 Authorities are asking that anyone with information call 1-800-TBI-FIND and that anyone who sees a car with Tennessee license plate 976-ZPT call 911. A $1,000 reward is available for information leading to Tad Cummins' arrest. 
 
 ABC News' Benjamin Stein contributed to this report.
– Tennessee police are renewing their plea to the public to be on the lookout for a 50-year-old teacher accused of kidnapping a 15-year-old female student. Tad Cummins disappeared along with Elizabeth Thomas on Monday, and surveillance video from a gas station in Decatur, Alabama, appears to show Cummins there that day, reports the Tennessean. Since then, however, no sightings have been reported. Authorities think Cummins manipulated the girl into a sexual relatonship at Culleoka Unit School, where he taught and she was a student. He was formally fired on Tuesday. Cummins "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," per an AMBER alert. Cummins has now been added to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's 10 Most Wanted List, and a $1,000 reward is being offered. Among those making public pleas for the girl's safe return is Cummins' wife, Jill. "Tad, this is not you," she said, per ABC News. "This is not who you are. We can help you get through this." Cummins faces charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor, but authorities say his penalty will be less severe if he turns himself in with the girl. Her family and friends had a candlelight vigil Saturday night in Columbia. "We are going to get her back," said her father, Anthony. See more photos, including one of Cummins' vehicle, here.