Draft:Kidnapping of Elizabeth Thomas

Elizabeth Thomas was kidnapped at age fifteen on March 13, 2017 by Tad Cummins from her place of work, the Shoney Resturant in Columbia, Tennessee. She was held captive by Cummins in two isolated cabins located in Cecilville, California. Her captivity lasted 39 days before she was found around 2500 mi away from her home in Tennessee.

On Febuary 6, 2017, Cummins was suspended without pay from his employment following a sighting of Thomas in his classroom against orders. That led to his kidnapping of Thomas and their subsequent flight from authorities. Thomas was seen in public on numerous occasions with Cummins, namely in Decatur, Alabama and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Since her abduction, Thomas has been featured in the film "Abducted by My Teacher: The Elizabeth Thomas Story" and multiple interviews with news sources. She worked with former kidnapping victim and child welfare activist Elizabeth Smart in the making of the film. In 2019, Cummins was sentenced to 20 years in prison without the possibility of parole for the kidnapping.

Thomas Family
At the time of the abduction, Thomas was employed at the Shoney Resturant in Columbia Tennesee, around 11 mi from her residence in Culleoka, Tennessee. Her father, Anthony Thomas, was working in pest control at the time of the abduction and was married to Kimberly Thomas. The year prior to the abduction, Kimberly Thomas, Elizabeth Thomas's mother, was arrested and charged with 5 counts of child abuse and neglect. Kimberly Thomas was eventually removed from the Thomas household as a result of the charges brought against her.

Kidnapper
Thomas's abductor, Tad Eric Cummins was born on July 1, 1966, his birth place is not publicly known.