Missing Tennessee teen allegedly abducted by former teacher found in California

AOL.COM EDITORS          April  20th 2017 
Tennessee teacher Tad Cummins has been caught by law enforcement after a weeks-long manhunt across multiple states after he allegedly kidnapped 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reports that Cummins, 50, was apprehended in California with Thomas, the teen who vanished with him more than one month ago. Authorities reported that she was found safe as well.

The end to the month-long nationwide manhunt came after officials found Cummins' Nissan Rogue on Wednesday night. The duo had last been spotted in Oklahoma City on surveillance footage at a Wal-Mart on March 30.

Cummins, who is married, and Thomas became the subject of a nationwide search after the teacher apparently lured Thomas into his car outside of a Shoney's restaurant in Columbia, Tennessee, about 45 miles south of Nashville.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation put him on its top 10 "most wanted" list shortly afterwards.

Cummins was suspended from his position in February after he ignored an order that barred Thomas from entering his classroom. The month before a student had reported seeing the 50-year-old and teenager kissing.
The two had disappeared on March 13.

Cummins will face charges of sexual contact with a minor and aggravated kidnapping, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.