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Tennessee Teacher And Student Subject Of Nationwide Manhunt Found

Tad Cummins, 50, faces state and federal charges in the suspected kidnapping of Elizabeth Thomas, 15, from Tennessee last month.
Posted at 6:14 PM, Apr 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-20 18:14:33-04

California police have arrested the Tennessee teacher accused of kidnapping his 15-year-old student over a month ago.

That student, 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas, has been found safe.

Thomas and 50-year-old Tad Cummins were found Thursday morning in northern California. 

The discovery came hours after someone called a tip into the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation late Wednesday night. 

"The caller indicated they had taken up residence in a cabin in a remote area in Cecilville, California, within the last week and a half," Tennessee Bureau of Investigation public information officer Josh DeVine said.

Thomas was reported missing March 13. Two days later, investigators said Thomas and Cummins were spotted at an Oklahoma City Walmart.

According to law enforcement in Tennessee, another student reported Cummins to school administrators in January. The student apparently saw Cummins and Thomas kiss. Cummins has since been fired from the school district.

He faces both state and federal charges.

"We mobilized a nation. And when you do that, something good most likely is going to happen because you can't hide from that many millions of people that are looking for you," said TBI Director Mark Gwyn.