NEXT ` THAT NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER... THE FIRST CONFIRMED SIGHTING... HE WAS A TEACHER AT THIS SCHOOL. KIDNAPPING A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL. IT WAS THE NATIONWIDE MANHUNT THAT TRANSFIXED THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD FOR 38 DAYS. THAT LEAVES A BIG HOLE IN MY HEART. A 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT TAKEN BY HER 50-YEAR-OLD TEACHER. SHE'S, LIKE, 'IF I'M NOT BACK BY 6, CALL THE COPS.' BUT TONIGHT ` SECRETS FROM HER BEDROOM AND THE VIDEO NO ONE HAS SEEN UNTIL NOW. HOW IT ALL STARTED WITH ELIZABETH THOMAS LEAVING HER HOME. WE NEED TO HOME, COS WE LOVE YOU. NOW 20/20 IS RETRACING THEIR DESPERATE ROAD TRIP. THROUGH NINE STATES, OVER 3000 MILES, STICKING TO THE BACK ROADS. STARTING AT A SEEDY MOTEL, THEN UNCOVERING HIS BIZARRE PLAN TO KAYAK TO MEXICO. ONCE YOU GET INTO MEXICO, YOU'RE HOME FREE. ALL THE SETBACKS. WE THOUGHT WE WERE CLOSE, BUT NOW IT'S IMPASSABLE. FINDING THE OFF-THE-GRID COMMUNE THAT KICKED THEM OUT. HE GOT VERY ANGRY AND ALMOST BLEW A GASKET. AND THEN THE DESERTED CABIN WHERE THEY WERE FINALLY FOUND. SO, THIS IS WHERE THEY STAYED. BUT WAS IT KIDNAPPING OR MIND CONTROL? IT'S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL YOU REALLY HAVE TO STEP INTO A CAR AND DRIVE AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY. THIS WAS MANIPULATION, NOT A FAIRY-TALE. THIS IS A CASE OF KIDNAPPING. (DRAMATIC THEME MUSIC) COPYRIGHT ABLE 2017 KIA ORA. I'M CAROLYN ROBINSON. TONIGHT ON 20/20 ` THE STORY MADE WORLDWIDE HEADLINES WHEN AN AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WENT ON THE RUN WITH HIS FAVOURITE FEMALE STUDENT. TEACHER TAD CUMMINS IS FACING CHARGES IN TENNESSEE, WHILE TEENAGER ELIZABETH THOMAS IS TRYING TO PIECE HER LIFE BACK TOGETHER. AFTER AN ALMOST-40-DAY NIGHTMARE FOR HER FAMILY. HERE'S REPORTER EVA PILGRIM, WHO'S COVERED THIS STORY FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN THINGS WENT FROM CLASSROOM TO CAPTIVE. TONIGHT WE ARE HEADING TO RURAL CULLEOKA, TENNESSEE, WHERE THIS STRANGE AND HEART-WRENCHING STORY BEGINS. JUST A DIMPLE ON THE UNIVERSE. ONCE KNOWN FOR ITS BOOMING CANTALOUPE CROP, IT'S NOW TOMATOES AND CATTLE THAT KEEP THIS FARMING COMMUNITY OF 5000 ALIVE. TUCKED IN THE LUSH GREENERY OF THESE ROLLING HILLS, YOU'LL FIND A POST OFFICE, GAS STATION AND NOT MUCH ELSE. THE SCHOOL'S ALWAYS BEEN THE HEARTBEAT OF THE COMMUNITY. CULLEOKA UNIT SCHOOL, A SPRAWLING TWO-STOREY COMPLEX WHICH WILL BECOME THE EPICENTRE OF A SEISMIC SCANDAL. IT'S KNOWN FOR ITS DRILL TEAM AND THE MUSICAL THEATRE TROUPE. # BOOGIE FEVER. # BUT IT'S DRAMA THAT QUICKLY CIRCLES THE NEW GIRL IN CLASS, 15-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH THOMAS. THOSE KIDS ARE FROM A SMALL COMMUNITY, AND ANY OUTSIDER BECOMES A TARGET IMMEDIATELY. SHE HAD BEEN HOME-SCHOOLED HER WHOLE LIFE. SHE WAS, UH, SOMEWHAT OF A TOMBOY, PLAYED REALLY ROUGH. SHE COULD SWITCH TO BEING REALLY NICE AND SWEET. PAIGE GRIFFITH IS A KIND OF SURROGATE MOM TO ELIZABETH. HER DAUGHTER ERIN IS ELIZABETH'S BEST FRIEND. SHE'D COME TO MY HOUSE, AND WE WOULD TALK AND WATCH TV, EAT JUNK FOOD, AND WE JUST HUNG OUT TOGETHER. (BOTH SHOUT PLAYFULLY) THAT'S ERIN AND ELIZABETH PLAY-FIGHTING IN THE BACK OF A CAR. THE PAIR LOVE TO GOOF AROUND. YOU WERE. NO, I WASN'T. YEAH, YOU WERE. WASN'T HIS NAME JUST`? NO! SHE WAS ALWAYS A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY AND BEEN DESCRIBED BY SOME PEOPLE AS BEING A DIVA. FOR THE FIRST TIME, HER SISTER SARAH SHOWS ME ELIZABETH'S ROOM. MY SISTER LIKES FISH TANKS AND FISHES. NOW A KIND OF MUSEUM OF AN ADOLESCENT CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO AGES. OH, THAT'S HER X-BOX? YEAH. ON THE ONE HAND, THE TEEN WHO BOUGHT HERSELF AN X-BOX WITH THE MONEY FROM HER AFTER-SCHOOL JOB; SHE JUST STAYED UP PLAYING GAMES. SHE WAS OBSESSED WITH, LIKE, GUNS AND STUFF. ON THE OTHER, A CHILD... SHE MADE THIS BEAR. ..STILL ENCHANTED BY PRINCESSES AND PONIES... WAS SHE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THIS? SHE LOVED THE BED COVERS THAT SHE JUST GOT. ...AND STILL CLINGING TO HER SECURITY BLANKET. THIS IS HER BABY BLANKET. SHE TAKES IT TO SCHOOL WITH HER. WHAT? YES. LIKE, EVERY DAY? YES. SHE HAS IT IN HER BACKPACK, AND SHE CUDDLES WITH IT. SHE CUDDLES WITH IT BECAUSE THE SMILES AND HOME MOVIES LIKE THIS MASK HER HIDDEN REALITY. INSTEAD OF HOME-SCHOOLING, SHE WAS ALLEGEDLY GETTING HARSH LESSONS FROM THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS. GROWING UP, MY MOM ABUSED US, AND THERE AS A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS SHE DID. A FEW TIMES SHE WOULD BEAT OUR HEADS UP AGAINST THE DRESSERS. ELIZABETH'S SIBLINGS SAY THEY ALL SUFFERED FOR YEARS, CULMINATING IN THEIR MOTHER, KIMBERLY THOMAS, HITTING ONE OF THEM WITH A TWO-BY-FOUR. AFTER WATCHING ALL THIS ABUSE, WE COULDN'T STAND IT ANY MORE. THE KIDS ALERT CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ON THEIR OWN. AUTHORITIES LATER REMOVE THEIR MOTHER FROM THE HOME. SHE'S CURRENTLY FACING FIVE COUNTS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. SHE DENIES THE CHARGES, TELLING A LOCAL TV STATION... I AM NOT GUILTY OF THOSE. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AT HOME? THERE'S TWO SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES IN MY YARD AND... TWO CASE WORKERS AND... THEIR FATHER, ANTHONY THOMAS, OFTEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK AS AN EXTERMINATOR TO SUPPORT HIS FIVE YOUNG CHILDREN, INSISTS HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW BAD THINGS HAD GOTTEN AT HOME. IT'S HARD FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT, ISN'T IT? YEAH. YOU DON'T LIKE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING? I GOTTA TAKE A BREAK. YEAH. (MUMBLES) THEIR MOTHER'S REMOVAL IS A WELCOME RELIEF. BUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, ELIZABETH IS PUSHED INTO THE TEENAGE PIRANHA POOL KNOWN AS HIGH SCHOOL. THE ULTIMATE OUTSIDER, SHE IS BULLIED EARLY AND OFTEN. I MEAN, THERE'S ALWAYS CLIQUES, AND SHE DIDN'T FIT IN ANYWHERE. WHAT WERE THEY MAKING FUN OF HER ABOUT? THEY WERE CALLING HER NAMES, AND THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, MAKING FUN OF HER. THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY SHE DRESSED, HER HAIR. NO ONE WOULD BE HER FRIEND. SO SHE WAS MISERABLE. BUT ELIZABETH EVENTUALLY FOUND ONE PERSON SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD TRUST. SHE HAD NO ONE IN THAT SCHOOL TO TALK TO, EXCEPT FOR THIS TEACHER. A POPULAR AND FRIENDLY SCIENCE TEACHER, TAD CUMMINS,... AND THAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS HOW HOT DOGS ARE MADE. ...WHO WOULD END UP IMPACTING HER LIFE MORE THAN ANYONE WOULD'VE EXPECTED OR WANTED. SHE WAS IN HIS CLASS IN HEALTH, AND HE BEGAN TO HELP HER MAKE THIS TRANSITION FROM HOME-SCHOOL TO PUBLIC SCHOOL. 50-YEAR-OLD TAD CUMMINS IS QUITE THE CHARMER. MAURY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY BRENT COOPER WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH HIM. HE WAS KIND OF FUNNY, KIND OF A CUT-UP, PRETTY OUTGOING GUY. SO YOU KNEW HIM? YOU SAW HIM AROUND? HE AND JILL, HIS WIFE, THEY WERE HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS AND MARRIED THE YEAR THEY GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEY'VE BEEN TOGETHER EVER SINCE ` 30-PLUS YEARS. JILL SAYS CUMMINS LIVED BY THE TENETS OF FAITH, FAMILY AND FELLOWSHIP. GOD IS THE CENTRE OF OUR MARRIAGE AND OUR LIFE, AND, UM, OUR FAITH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US, AND I THINK IT WAS TO HIM TOO AND STILL IS. CUMMINS HAD EVEN DONE MISSION WORK IN THE RAINFORESTS OF PANAMA NOW HE VOLUNTEERS AT HIS CHURCH, TEACHING SUNDAY SCHOOL, SINGING IN THE CHOIR, CHAPERONING AND PREACHING TO TEENS. WE DID JAIL MINISTRIES AND A BOOTCAMP MINISTRY. ME AND HIM SINGING TOGETHER TO THE PEOPLE AT THE JAIL. WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP WITH HIM? HE WAS YOUR... ALL-AMERICAN DAD. THE EPITOME OF PROTECTOR, HERO, DAD. MM-HM. NO MATTER WHAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH, HE WAS THE ONE YOU COULD CALL AND WOULD FIX IT. TAD CUMMINS FLOURISHES IN THE CLASSROOM. THE DIFFERENCE IN... WATCH THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO OF HIM TEACHING HOW TO PERFORM CPR. SEE THE DIFFERENCE SO THAT I'M ACTUALLY TAKING MY WEIGHT OFF OF IT. DID HE ENJOY TEACHING? HE LOVED IT. HE SAID HE NEVER HAD A JOB HE ENJOYED MORE. HE WAS THE COOL TEACHER. LIKE, EVERYBODY LOVED HIM. HE WAS EVERYONE'S FRIEND, EVERYONE'S MENTOR, HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE THROUGH SO MANY THINGS. AND FOR ELIZABETH, HE'S AN ENCOURAGING ADULT ROLE MODEL. EVERYTHING SHE NEEDED, HE WAS THERE. HE HAD BOUGHT A MICROWAVE AND PUT IT IN HIS ROOM SO SHE COULD HEAT UP FOOD AND EAT HER LUNCH IN HIS ROOM. HIS KINDNESS EVEN EXTENDED OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, TAKING ELIZABETH TO CHURCH ON SUNDAYS WITH HIS WIFE. WHY DID HE DECIDE TO TAKE HER TO CHURCH? OUR PREACHER'S WIFE WAS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT ABUSE AND HOW TO GET PAST IT, GET OVER IT AND DECIDED TO INVITE BETH BECAUSE SHE HAD ALSO A PAST. WE WERE HELPING HER, I THOUGHT. DID YOU EVER THINK ANYTHING OF THEIR INTERACTIONS TOGETHER? IT WAS LIKE A FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP. IS THE WAY I SAW IT TOO IS THE WAY HE WOULD EXPLAIN IT. IN FACT, I CALLED HER OUR THIRD DAUGHTER SOMETIMES. BUT ELIZABETH WASN'T HIS FIRST SPECIAL STUDENT. NEXT ` THE GIRL WHO MADE TAD CUMMINS CROON. (TAD SINGS) HE SANG THAT SONG TO YOU? SOME OF THE STUDENTS WOULD MAKE JOKES ABOUT US BEING IN LOVE. BUT IT WAS NO JOKE, AND WHEN WE COME BACK, YOU'LL SEE HOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TEACHER AND HIS STUDENT CROSSED THE LINE. (DRAMATIC THEME MUSIC) . All right, so, this is Tim. 34-year-old male. RTC. Multi-vehicle... VOICES OVERLAP I think about the car crash a lot. I know he caused it and I reacted the best way possible. But it's hard to let it go. SOMBRE MUSIC When I asked what had happened to him, the doctors said he really wore the impact ` any more and things would've been much worse. They said he was lucky ` lucky I wasn't going any faster. Thank you. SOMBRE MUSIC CONTINUES It's OK. MUSIC CONTINUES It's OK. 1 (DRAMATIC THEME MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO 20/20 AND TONIGHT'S STORY ABOUT A TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP THAT SPARKED A 40-DAY MANHUNT. AS WE CONTINUE, REPORTER EVA PILGRIM UNCOVERS THE TRUTH ABOUT TEACHER TAD CUMMINS, WHO'S NOT THE LOVING, CARING HUSBAND AND FATHER THE OUTSIDE WORLD SEES HIM AS. THE 50-YEAR-OLD WAS HIDING SOME DARK SECRETS. CHURCHGOING FAMILY MAN TAD CUMMINS SEEMED LIKE A MODEL CITIZEN. BUT LOOK CLOSER AND YOU'LL FIND SOME CRACKS IN THAT HAPPY FACADE. TAD WAS KIND OF A BULLY ABOUT THINGS. CHANDLER ANDERSON WORKED WITH CUMMINS BACK WHEN CUMMINS WORKED AS A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL. HE WOULD SAY THINGS LIKE, 'YOU'RE STUPID. YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN THE E.R.' IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE? OH YEAH, IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE. I HAVE SEEN TAD BE TOLD 'NO' PREVIOUSLY. AND I'VE SEEN THE RAGE AND ANGER HE GETS. HE DOESN'T TAKE 'NO' WELL? NO, ABSOLUTELY. ANDERSON SAYS CUMMINS HAD A PROBLEM WITH AUTHORITY. HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT. HE SAYS THAT'S WHY CUMMINS SWITCHED CAREERS AND TOOK A BIG PAY CUT. IF MONEY'S NOT THE CENTRAL ISSUE AND FEEDING YOUR EGO IS, THAT'S WHAT HE CHOSE. THAT'S WHY HE BECAME A TEACHER. WHO TELLS A TEACHER 'NO'? CERTAINLY NOT STUDENTS. CUMMINS' HOLD ON SOME STUDENTS WAS PARTICULARLY STRONG. DESTANY PARRISH, NOW 20, WAS IN CUMMINS' CLASS BACK IN 2011. IT WAS LITERALLY LIKE A BEST FRIEND THAT YOU'D KNOWN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE OR LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT YOU'D CONFIDE IN. LIKE ELIZABETH, DESTANY STRUGGLED TO FIT IN. AND HE MADE YOU FEEL... NORMAL? AND SAFE AND PROTECTED AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. THEY SHARED A LOVE OF MUSIC. AN ASPIRING SINGER-SONGWRITER, CUMMINS ONCE BROKE OUT IN SONG FOR DESTANY IN THE MUSIC ROOM. SHE RECORDED THE PERFORMANCE. (TAD SINGS) WAS THE HEALTH TEACHER SHOWING HER HIS HEART? I THINK HE PROBABLY MEANT IT THE WAY WHEN HE WAS SINGING IT. HE SANG THAT SONG TO YOU ON PURPOSE, YOU THINK? I THINK. I'M NOT SURE, OBVIOUSLY. DID THE OTHER STUDENTS THINK SOMETHING WEIRD WAS GOING ON BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU? SOME OF THE STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, WOULD MAKE JOKES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, US BEING IN LOVE OR WHATEVER. I KIND OF BLEW IT OFF, LIKE, 'NO, IT'S JUST ME AND TAD. WE'RE FRIENDS.' DESTANY MOVED AWAY BEFORE GRADUATING AND SAYS NOTHING INAPPROPRIATE EVER HAPPENED BETWEEN THEM. BUT A FEW YEARS LATER, CUMMINS FOUND ANOTHER STUDENT TO SHOWER WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION ` ELIZABETH THOMAS. SHE HAD NO FRIENDS. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS TAD CUMMINS WAS ABLE TO MOVE IN ON HER SO QUICK. JASON WHATLEY IS THE THOMAS FAMILY'S ATTORNEY. DO YOU THINK HE TARGETED HER? NO DOUBT. HE SOUGHT HER OUT? NO DOUBT. HE WAS SPECIFICALLY GROOMING THIS CHILD FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE, AND THAT WAS A RELATIONSHIP. HE CHOSE A GIRL THAT WAS CLEARLY HAVING ISSUES, BECAUSE SHE WENT TO HIM FOR, 'COUNSELLING'. SHE WAS THE PERFECT VICTIM. AS PART OF THE SEDUCTION, CUMMINS PORTRAYED HIMSELF AS AN INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY. APPARENTLY HE TOLD A LOT OF TALES ABOUT HIS FICTIONAL BACKGROUND. HE'S A CIA OPERATIVE. HE'S AN FBI AGENT. HE'S A MILLIONAIRE. ANTHONY THOMAS SAYS HIS DAUGHTER WAS IMPRESSED WITH CUMMINS' ALLEGED EXPLOITS. AND I SAID, 'YOU'RE TELLING ME HE'S BEEN IN THESE FBI AND THE CIA?' 'OH, YEAH. 'OH, TAD HAS GOT A BUNCH OF MONEY. HE'S GOT, ACTUALLY, A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS IN THE BANK.' STILL, THOMAS DIDN'T OBJECT WHEN CUMMINS TOOK ELIZABETH TO CHURCH. FORMER FBI AGENT BRAD GARRETT IS AN ABC NEWS CONSULTANT. THE IDEA THAT HE WOULD BRING ELIZABETH TO THIS CHURCH DOESN'T SURPRISE ME ONE BIT BECAUSE HE NEEDS A COVER STORY. 'LOOK AT THIS, I'M BRINGING YOU TO CHURCH WITH MY FAMILY. ISN'T THIS A WONDERFUL THING?' DESPITE OUTWARD APPEARANCES, AUTHORITIES SAY CUMMINS' INTENTIONS BECOME LESS OF THE SPIRIT AND MORE OF THE FLESH. D.A. BRENT COOPER SAYS INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED A SPECIAL SYSTEM CUMMINS DEVISED TO EXCHANGE SECRET MESSAGES WITH ELIZABETH USING THE SAME E-MAIL ACCOUNT. WHAT WAS, KIND OF, THE NATURE OF THOSE MESSAGES? THINGS THAT ONLY PEOPLE THAT WERE IN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WOULD SHARE. THERE WAS A MESSAGE THAT SAYS, 'I SAW YOU STANDING BY YOUR BACKPACK AND JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU, YOU HAVE A REALLY NICE BLANK.' IT APPEARS THE TWO WERE MUCH LESS INHIBITED ON INSTAGRAM. CUMMINS POSTS, 'YOU'RE ALL MY HEART EVER TALKS ABOUT.' 'IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, AT LAST SIGHT.' AND ELIZABETH, 'I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO SCHOOL JUST TO SEE YOU.' 'I LOVE YOU.' AND SHE TOLD HER FRIEND ERIN SHE HAD BIG NEWS ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE REALLY LIKED THIS GUY AND SHE REALLY LOVED HIM. SHE REALLY WANTED TO BE AROUND THIS GUY ALL THE TIME, LIKE, 24/7. THAT CARELESSNESS MADE THE SITUATION HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE. AND ON JANUARY 23RD, IT ALL BLEW UP WHEN A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT REPORTED SEEING CUMMINS AND ELIZABETH KISSING IN HIS CLASSROOM. THIS WAS AN HONOURS STUDENT WHO SAW THEM KISSING. THAT 12-YEAR-OLD HONOURS STUDENT LATER DESCRIBED THE KISS TO DETECTIVES AS... THE SCHOOL AND EVENTUALLY LOCAL COPS INVESTIGATE. ELIZABETH DENIES EVERYTHING. I SAID, 'WHY IS THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY CALLING ME ABOUT AN INCIDENT AT SCHOOL?' SHE SAID, 'OH, YEAH. 'OH, YEAH, SOME GIRL LIED. IT'S NOTHING. NOTHING HAPPENED.' SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD GOTTEN IN TROUBLE AT SCHOOL BECAUSE HER TEACHER WAS CALMING HER FROM A PANIC ATTACK. AND SOME GIRL WALKED IN AND SAW IT AND TOLD EVERYBODY THAT THEY WERE KISSING. CUMMINS CONTINUES THE COVER-UP. ON FEBRUARY 1ST IN AN INTERVIEW WITH DETECTIVES, HE DESCRIBES THE RELATIONSHIP AS 'THAT OF A FATHER FIGURE AT SCHOOL' AND DENIED EVER KISSING ELIZABETH. A FEW DAYS LATER CUMMINS IS SUSPENDED. HOW DID HE EXPLAIN IT TO YOU? THAT, UM, HE WAS... IT WAS EITHER SOMEONE TELLING A LIE OR THOUGHT THEY SAW SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T, AND THAT IT ABSOLUTELY DID NOT HAPPEN. I HAD NO REASON NOT TO BELIEVE HIM. 31 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, YOU KNOW, WITH NO PROBLEMS, WHY WOULD YOU NOT BELIEVE HIM? FOR MANY IT WAS HARD TO BELIEVE. AND THE ALREADY BULLIED TEEN NOW MARKED WITH A SCARLET LETTER OF SORTS. THERE WERE THINGS BEING SAID THAT WERE EXTREMELY HURTFUL. ELIZABETH'S FATHER TOLD WHATLEY ELIZABETH FACED RIDICULE AND HAD EVEN BEEN CALLED A WHORE. MEANWHILE, CUMMINS, NOW IN EXILE FROM THE SCHOOL, BEGINS ACTING STRANGELY AT HOME. HE, UM, ALWAYS MADE THE COFFEE THE NIGHT BEFORE HE WOULD GO TO BED, AND HE STARTED TELLING ME HOW TO MAKE THE COFFEE. AND I WAS LIKE, 'WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS? WHY DID YOU TELL ME HOW TO MAKE THE COFFEE?' AND I WAS TEARS BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT HE WAS AFRAID HE WAS GOING TO GO TO JAIL. HE WAS PLANNING TO GO SOMEWHERE. APPARENTLY THE TEACHER HAD CONVINCED HIMSELF AND HIS FAVOURITE STUDENT THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY OUT ` WITH EACH OTHER ON THE OPEN ROAD. HE WORKED ON HER, HE MANIPULATED HER, AND HE DID THIS UNTIL, FINALLY, SHE WAS JUST A GIRL THAT WOULD DO WHATEVER HE WANTED. UP NEXT ` EXCLUSIVE VIDEO AS ELIZABETH THOMAS WALKS OUT OF HER FRONT DOOR AND INTO THE UNKNOWN. AND WHEN WE RETURN, WE'LL SEE THAT STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN HAS FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES. (DRAMATIC THEME MUSIC) 1 (DRAMATIC THEME MUSIC) WELCOME BACK TO 20/20 AND TONIGHT'S STORY ABOUT THE HUNT FOR TEENAGER ELIZABETH THOMAS AND HER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, TAD CUMMINS. WITH CUMMINS SUSPENDED BY THE SCHOOL, HE'S CONVINCED THE ONLY WAY OUT IS TO LEAVE HIS FAMILY AND GO ON THE RUN. AND HE'S DETERMINED TO TAKE ELIZABETH WITH HIM. EVA PILGRIM TAKES UP THE STORY. IT'S MONDAY MORNING IN COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE ` THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK WEEK FOR MOST; THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE FOR TAD CUMMINS. 'A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO START,' HE POSTS ON INSTAGRAM. THE 50-YEAR-OLD TELLS HIS WIFE HE HAS A JOB INTERVIEW AND NEEDS TO BORROW HER NISSAN ROGUE, BUT THE DISGRACED TEACHER IS ABOUT TO GO ROGUE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. HE TOOK YOUR CAR. HE DID. HE SWITCHED VEHICLES WITH ME ON THE DAY THAT HE LEFT, BECAUSE HE WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN ` NOT FAR, BUT FAR ENOUGH THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE THE JEEP AND HE TOOK THE ROGUE, WHICH WAS MINE ` AND NEVER CAME BACK. ACROSS TOWN THAT SAME MORNING, SISTER SARAH SAYS ELIZABETH WAS AGITATED. SHE KEPT ON SAYING, 'HEY, YOU NEED TO WAKE UP,' AND I'M LIKE, 'WHAT?' SHE WAS LIKE, 'IF I'M NOT BACK BY 6, CALL THE COPS.' ELIZABETH IS NOT YET OF THE AGE OF CONSENT. HER STATE OF MIND AND HER TRUE FEELINGS ABOUT CUMMINS ARE STILL A MATTER OF DISPUTE, BUT THIS MUCH WE KNOW. IN VIDEO OBTAINED EXCLUSIVELY BY 20/20, WE SEE A FRIEND PULL UP TO THE THOMAS HOUSE IN THE MORNING HOURS. A FEW MINUTES LATER, ELIZABETH EMERGES, CARRYING WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN OVERNIGHT BAG AND A BACKPACK. IT WILL BE MORE THAN A MONTH BEFORE HER FAMILY SEES HER AGAIN. AT 7.45 THAT FRIEND DROPS ELIZABETH OFF AT A SHONEY'S RESTAURANT. 8.32AM ` CUMMINS' SILVER NISSAN SUV FILLS UP AT A SHELL STATION NEIGHBOURING THAT SHONEY'S. SIX MINUTES LATER, IT PULLS OUT. SOON ELIZABETH IS IN THE CAR WITH CUMMINS, AND TO DATE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE HE PHYSICALLY COERCED HER. BUT WOULD ELIZABETH WILLINGLY LEAVE BEHIND HER FAMILY AND THAT SECURITY BLANKET SHE HOLDS SO DEAR? SHE LOVED IT. MEDICATION AND MAKE-UP STILL SITTING ON HER DRESSER AT HOME. IT'S AN ABDUCTION EITHER WAY YOU LOOK AT IT. YOU CAN EITHER ABDUCT BY GRABBING SOMEONE OUT OF THEIR HOUSE AT NIGHT BY FORCE OR YOU CAN ABDUCT OVER TIME. THAT EVENING TAD'S WIFE COMES HOME FROM WORK TO FIND AN EMPTY HOUSE AND A NOTE FROM HER HUSBAND TELLING HER HE NEEDED TO 'CLEAR HIS HEAD', CLAIMING HE WAS HEADING TO EITHER VIRGINIA BEACH OR DC. HE PROMISES TO RETURN AND MAKES AN UNUSUAL REQUEST, ASKING HER NOT TO CONTACT POLICE. I WAS JUST IN TOTAL SHOCK WHEN I READ IT. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK. DID YOU REALIZE ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT HE HAD BEEN LYING ABOUT EVERYTHING, OR...? AT THAT MOMENT, THEN I` I KNEW THAT IT WAS... ALL A LIE. WHEN ELIZABETH FAILS TO RETURN BY 6, SARAH SENSES SOMETHING IS WRONG. AND I STARTED FEELING REALLY GUILTY. I FELT LIKE IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF MY SISTER, AND I DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF MY SISTER. AFTER HOURS OF DRIVING AROUND SEARCHING, ANTHONY THOMAS CALLS THE SHERIFF AND IMMEDIATELY POINTS THE FINGER AT CUMMINS. I SAID, 'YOU GUYS NEED TO HUNT DOWN TAD CUMMINS AND SEE IF HE'S IN TOWN. SEE WHERE HE IS.' EASIER SAID THAN DONE. WHEN CUMMINS BREAKS HIS PROMISE TO RETURN HOME, JILL BREAKS HER SILENCE. SHE TELLS COPS CUMMINS TOOK TWO HANDGUNS AND $4500 FROM A LOAN HE GOT A WEEK EARLIER. JILL ALSO SAY HER HUSBAND REFILLED A PRESCRIPTION FOR CIALIS BEFORE LEAVING TOWN. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, AN ARREST WARRANT IS ISSUED AND TAD CUMMINS IS OFFICIALLY A WANTED MAN. BUT TAD CUMMINS GOT WHAT HE WANTED. HE'S GOT THE GIRL, AND HE'S GOT SOME SEPARATION. HE'S BEEN GONE FOR NEARLY A DAY BEFORE COPS FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. REPORTER: THE TBI ISSUED AN AMBER ALERT FOR MARY CATHERINE ELIZABETH THOMAS. THE ONLY POSSIBLE LEAD ` A CELL PHONE PING FROM ELIZABETH'S PHONE AROUND 3.30 MONDAY IN DECATUR, ALABAMA. AND A DISTURBING UPDATE ` HER INSTAGRAM PROFILE CHANGED, ADDING WIFE. I WAS A LITTLE BIT SICK WHEN I SAW THAT. AMBER ALERTS GO OUT IN TENNESSEE AND ALABAMA. THE WIFE OF A MAN WANTED FOR DISAPPEARING WITH A 15-YEAR... ON DAY FIVE, WIFE JILL HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE TO TRY TO REASON WITH HER HUSBAND. YOUR FAMILY WANTS THEIR POPPY BACK. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND TURN YOURSELF INTO THE POLICE AND BRING BETH HOME. CUMMINS MIGHT NOT HAVE WATCHED HIS WIFE'S TELEVISED PLEA, BUT MILLIONS CAN'T STOP WATCHING. THE SMALL-TOWN TEACHER'S CASE GOES NATIONAL. THE TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WORKS TO RETRACE CUMMINS' STEPS IN THE DAYS BEFORE HE VANISHED, RELEASING THIS SECURITY VIDEO FROM A LOCAL TENNESSEE WALMART. CUMMINS CASUALLY STROLLS THE AISLES, MAKING REPEATED VISITS TO ONE ` THE HAIR COLOUR AISLE. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHERE THEY WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR JOURNEY, AND THEN IT'S REALLY BEEN KIND OF A COLD TRAIL. MEANWHILE, INVESTIGATORS KEEP WORKING, LOOKING THROUGH TAD CUMMINS' COMPUTER, DISCOVERING AN UNSETTLING SEARCH HISTORY THAT INCLUDED GOOGLING 'HOW TO MARRY A TEEN BRIDE' AND LOOKING UP THE AGE OF CONSENT. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP A CONSISTENT PATTERN OF BEHAVIOUR ON CUMMINS' BEHALF THAT INDICATES HE PLANNED THIS FOR SOME TIME BEFORE DISAPPEARING WITH ELIZABETH. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP THE GREEN RIBBONS ALL OVER TOWN. WE'VE HAD PRAYER VIGILS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COME. CHANDLER ANDERSON SHOWS HIS SUPPORT WITH A DIFFERENT KIND OF GREEN. WE'RE HOPING THAT $10,000 WILL GET SOMEONE TO TALK OR TELL US WHERE ELIZABETH IS. SOMEONE KNOWS WHERE SHE IS. JUST AS MANY ARE LOSING HOPE, A BREAK IN THE CASE. BIG NEWS THIS AFTERNOON. A CONFIRMED SIGHTING OF AMBER-ALERT SUSPECT TAD CUMMINS AND MISSING CHILD ELIZABETH THOMAS IN OKLAHOMA CITY. A TIP LEADS INVESTIGATORS TO AN OKLAHOMA CITY WALMART TO RECOVER THIS SECURITY FOOTAGE. RECORDED TWO WEEKS EARLIER, IT PROVIDES THE FIRST IMAGES OF THE TWO SINCE THEY DISAPPEARED. TAD CUMMINS' HAIR AND GOATEE NOW APPEAR DARK BROWN AND ELIZABETH'S HAIR DARKENED RED. THEY BUY SOME FOOD AND PAY WITH CASH. HE'S VERY SMART. I KNEW HE WOULD TRY TO CHANGE HIS APPEARANCE. (SNIFFLES) IN NEBRASKA, ANOTHER POSSIBLE SIGHTING. THE LOCAL POLICE POST THESE SECURITY IMAGES FROM A MCDONALD'S ON TO THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE BUT QUICKLY DISCOVER IT WAS ONE OF MANY FALSE LEADS. A MONTH OF NO DIRECTION, NO CONTACT. SOMEHOW THIS HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WITH NO PRIORS IS PROVING AS ELUSIVE AS A MASTER CRIMINAL. HE'S NOT A STUPID PERSON. HE'S A SMART MAN. AND HE STILL HAS THE SUPPORT OF HIS FAMILY. NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, DADDY, NO MATTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE, WE JUST WANT YOU TO COME HOME. WE MISS YOU SO MUCH. YOU STILL SORT OF DEFEND HIM? YOU STILL` I DO. I DO. I FIND MYSELF DEFENDING HIM. WHY? AFTER WHAT HE DID TO YOU? NOT ONLY DID HE... BETRAY YOUR MARRIAGE,... SURE. ...BUT HE THRUST YOUR WHOLE FAMILY... I KNOW. UNBELIEVABLE. WHILE THE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BURN BRIGHT FOR ELIZABETH'S SAFE RETURN, TAD CUMMINS HAS OTHER IDEAS AND OTHER PLACES TO HIDE. WE HONESTLY JUST DON'T KNOW. THEY'RE A BIT OF A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK RIGHT NOW, SO TO SPEAK. THEY FRANKLY COULD BE ANYWHERE. SO JUST WHERE ARE THEY AND HOW WILL POLICE TRACK THEM DOWN? STAY WITH US TO FIND OUT. 1 AS 20/20 CONTINUES WITH TONIGHT'S STORY, WE JOIN THE POLICE HUNT FOR TAD CUMMINS, THE 50-YEAR-OLD TEACHER WHO WENT ON THE RUN WITH ONE OF HIS UNDERAGE FEMALE STUDENTS. CUMMINS IS PROVING ELUSIVE, AND WITH NO LEADS, INVESTIGATORS ARE FINDING THE UNITED STATES IS A VERY BIG COUNTRY TO SEARCH WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TWO PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO BE FOUND. EVA PILGRIM CONTINUES THE STORY. YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THIS STORY OR THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT GRASPING THE ALLURE OF THE AMERICAN ROAD ` THE FREEDOM, THE CONTROL, THE ABILITY TO PUT YOUR WHOLE PAST IN YOUR REAR-VIEW MIRROR. THIS WAS TAD CUMMINS' SELL TO ELIZABETH THOMAS, WHO WAS CLEARLY OPEN TO SUGGESTION. JUST DAYS BEFORE SHE'D POSTED ON INSTAGRAM... WE KNOW THAT TAD CUMMINS AND ELIZABETH DROVE OUT OF TENNESSEE WITH THEIR BAGS PACKED FOR WARMER WEATHER. HE HAD SHORTS AND T-SHIRTS. SHE HAD HER BATHING SUIT. SHE LEFT HER MAKE-UP BEHIND. THEY DROVE SOUTH, THEN WEST, OFTEN EVADING AUTHORITIES BY STICKING TO THE BACK ROADS. AS THEIR PICTURES SPREAD IN MEDIA ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY MAKE THAT STOP IN OKLAHOMA CITY, THE FIRST WE KNOW OF, WHERE INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY CHECKED INTO THIS SUPER 8 MOTEL. STAFF HERE TELLING INVESTIGATORS CUMMINS ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE LOCAL WALMART. THAT SLIP-UP GAVE AUTHORITIES THE LEAD THEY NEEDED TO PULL THE STORE SECURITY VIDEO. FUGITIVES, PARTICULARLY IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FUGITIVES BEFORE, ARE FAIRLY UNSOPHISTICATED AND THEY MAKE MISTAKES. WE LEARN THAT CUMMINS MADE THAT MISTAKE HERE AT THE SUPER 8, USING HIS REAL NAME, EVEN GIVING THE MOTEL HIS REAL ID, BEFORE CHECKING IN TO ROOM 114. THIS IS WHAT A SINGLE-BED ROOM LOOKS LIKE AT THIS SUPER 8 HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY. NEWLY RENOVATED HOTEL ROOM. YOU CAN SEE THE NEWER LINENS. IT ALSO COMES WITH A MICROWAVE AND A REFRIGERATOR. ALL A FAR CRY FROM WHERE THEY WOULD END UP ONCE TAD CUMMINS' MONEY RUNS OUT. HOTEL STAFF SAY THE TWO SPENT MOST OF THEIR TIME IN THEIR ROOM, KEEPING TO THEMSELVES. SO YOU THINK HIS BIGGEST TROUBLE IS GOING TO BE KEEPING HER IN LINE, ON HIS SIDE, UNDER CONTROL? YES, KEEPING HER IN A PLACE WHERE SHE DOESN'T EITHER WANT TO RUN FROM HIM, CALL SOMEBODY, TEXT SOMEBODY. MAYBE HE SAID, 'LOOK, YOU'RE IN AS MUCH AS TROUBLE AS I AM. 'YOUR LIFE WILL BE AWFUL IF YOU GO BACK THERE. YOU HAVE TO STAY WITH ME.' THROUGHOUT THEIR JOURNEY, AUTHORITIES SAY CUMMINS TRIES TO COVER HIS TRACKS, AVOIDING CREDIT CARDS IN FAVOUR OF CASH, SWITCHING OUT STOLEN PLATES TWICE, DISABLING HIS CAR'S GPS SYSTEM, AND EVEN THROWING OUT THEIR CELL PHONES TO KEEP FROM BEING TRACKED. NOW, REMEMBER, TAD CUMMINS HAD A HISTORY SOUTH OF THE BORDER. 20 YEARS EARLIER, HE'D TRAVELLED TO THE RAINFORESTS OF PANAMA ON A CHURCH MEDICAL MISSION TRIP. NOW, IN NEED OF A HIDING PLACE OFF THE GRID, IT COULD BE AN IDEAL DESTINATION. DID YOU EVER HEAR HIM TALKING ABOUT BEING OFF THE GRID OR...? WELL, WE USED TO WATCH TV SHOWS TOGETHER ABOUT THAT SORT OF THING. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT TAKES TO GET OUT ALIVE OF SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES. YOU KNOW, NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD I HAVE DREAMED THAT HE WOULD BE DOING THAT. SINCE ELIZABETH HAD NO PASSPORT, CUMMINS COULDN'T TAKE HER BY LAND AND DECIDED INSTEAD TO TAKE HER BY SEA. BUT HOW TO PULL OFF THAT CROSSING? AUTHORITIES SAY CUMMINS WANTED TO GO BY BOAT FROM HERE IN SAN DIEGO DOWN TO MEXICO. FROM THERE, THEY COULD CONTINUE ON TO PANAMA. IT'S KIND OF MORE LIKE` IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE A MOVIE STUNT. THAT'S NOT FOR REAL LIFE. BRYAN ZULKA IS THE OWNER AND CAPTAIN OF EL GATO SPORT FISHING. IS IT EASY TO TAKE A BOAT FROM HERE INTO MEXICO? NO, IT'S NOT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT BOAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT WEATHER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT SKILLS AND NAVIGATION, OTHERWISE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. AND WE'VE JUST LEARNED FROM INVESTIGATORS THAT CUMMINS DIDN'T GET A MOTORBOAT, JUST A HUMBLE MAN-POWERED KAYAK. THAT MIGHT BE FINE IN THIS TRANQUIL CHANNEL, BUT ONCE HE'D HIT THE MOUTH OF THE OCEAN... AS YOU CAN SEE WE'RE COMING OUT HERE, THERE'S GOOD WAVES. THIS IS AN EASY A 4FT TO 8FT SWELL. REAL CLOSE TOGETHER. NO SHOCK ` CUMMINS NEVER GOT THIS FAR. INSTEAD HE PURSUED ANOTHER PLAN. WE DON'T KNOW THE PRECISE ROUTE, BUT CUMMINS AND HIS TEENAGE PASSENGER ENDED UP IN BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. AND HERE THEY LEARN OF A REMOTE COMMUNE ON THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE STATE. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE ARE STILL PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE LIVE COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM SOCIETY. THIS IS ONE OF THEM ` THE BLACK BEAR RANCH, THE FOCUS OF THE DOCUMENTARY 'COMMUNE'. MY SLOGAN AT THE TIME WAS 'FREE LAND FOR FREE PEOPLE'. SINCE 1968, IT'S BEEN A PLACE TO SHED BOTH YOUR CLOTHING AND THE INHIBITIONS OF MODERN LIFE ` IF YOU CAN OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES OF GETTING THERE. WE START THE TRIP WITH FOG AND RAIN. PAVED HIGHWAYS SOON TURN INTO NARROW DIRT ROADS. THE FINAL GASP OF CIVILIZATION ` THIS GAS STATION IN TINY CECILVILLE. I'M EVA. I'M GRIFFIN. HERE WE FOUND GRIFFIN BARRY, WHO SAYS HE MET TAD CUMMINS ON DAY 26 OF HIS JOURNEY. YOU FELT BAD FOR HIM? YEAH. YOU HELPED HIM OUT? YEAH, YEAH. I PUT $15 IN HIS TANK. AND YOU KNOW, HE WAS LOOKING FOR BLACK BEAR. HE SAID HE HEARD ABOUT IT. WERE THEY LOST? UH, I THINK IT CAN BE A HARD PLACE TO FIND. HE WASN'T KIDDING. WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO BLACK BEAR RANCH. WE'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS. NO CELL PHONE SIGNAL, VERY SPOTTY GPS. WE THOUGHT WE WERE CLOSE, BUT NOW IT'S IMPASSABLE, SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND TRY TO FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO GET THERE. WE FINALLY FIND OURSELVES AT BLACK BEAR RANCH, WHERE WE DEFINITELY GET THE STORY WE CAME FOR. THOSE ARE CHICKENS UP THERE OR...? YEAH, CHICKENS AND DUCKS. THE RECLUSIVE RESIDENTS MADE US SHOOT THIS VIDEO ON AN OLDER MODEL IPHONE, AND THEY HAD TO VOTE BEFORE LETTING US USE IT. OUR HOST, APRIL SHOWERS, GIVES US A TOUR. THE COMMUNE'S FORTUNES HAVE EBBED AND FLOWED OVER THE YEARS. TODAY, THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF MEMBERS LEFT, MOST SHAKEN BY THE RECENT EVENTS. YEAH, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THIS COUPLE ARRIVED, AND THEY FAILED TO IDENTIFY THEIR TRUE SELVES AND IDENTITIES. CUMMINS AND ELIZABETH USED THE FAKE NAMES OF JOHN AND JOANNA AND TOLD EVERYONE THEY WERE 44 AND 24 YEARS OLD. THE RESIDENTS HERE HAD NO REASON TO SUSPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT. WE'RE AN OFF-THE-GRID HOMESTEADING COMMUNITY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY TELEVISION, RADIO, CELL PHONE, INTERNET. THERE'S NO NEWSPAPER DELIVERY OR OTHER CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD BESIDES WHAT COMES IN AND OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THEY TOOK THE PAIR IN, GIVING THEM A BED HERE IN THE MAIN HOUSE AND SHARING THEIR FOOD. BUT WHILE TAD CUMMINS HAS LEFT SO MUCH BEHIND HIM, ONE THING HE HASN'T SHED IS HIS HOT TEMPER. SO THEY DIDN'T FIT IN HERE VERY WELL? NO, THEY DIDN'T FIT IN HERE VERY WELL. HE BROUGHT THAT INTO OUR SACRED SPACE, THIS TERRIBLE BEHAVIOUR AND ACTING ON WRONG IMPULSE AND A PERVERTED INSTINCT, I WOULD SAY. THE COUPLE OPENLY DEFYING THE COMMUNE'S WORK RULES, INSTEAD STAYING IN BED ALL DAY. TAD INSISTED ON CARRYING AROUND A POCKET KNIFE FOR PROTECTION. HOW DID THEY LEAVE? IT WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION. WE DIDN'T WANT THEM HERE AT ALL, AND WE HAD TO ASK THEM TO LEAVE. HE WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, TAD CUMMINS, AND HE GOT VERY ANGRY AND ALMOST BLEW A GASKET, I WOULD SAY, BUT HE LEFT WITHOUT HURTING ANYONE OR DAMAGING PROPERTY. WHEN WE RETURN, AFTER 3000 MILES ON THE RUN THROUGH NINE STATES, AN UNLIKELY HERO COMES TO ELIZABETH'S RESCUE. HE'S ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. SO WHO IS THIS HERO? WE'LL FIND OUT WHEN 20/20 COMES BACK. 1 WELCOME BACK TO 20/20 AND TONIGHT'S STORY ABOUT THE TEACHER WHO ABDUCTED HIS STUDENT AND WENT ON THE RUN ACROSS THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. AS WE CONTINUE, THE NOOSE IS TIGHTENING AROUND TAD CUMMINS, AND AN UNLIKELY HERO IS ABOUT TO COME TO THE RESCUE OF ELIZABETH THOMAS, THE TEENAGER HE ABDUCTED. HERE'S EVA PILGRIM. IT'S NOW 36 DAYS INTO THEIR FLIGHT FROM TENNESSEE. TAD CUMMINS AND ELIZABETH THOMAS HAVE SPENT THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF LIVING IN THE REMOTE BLACK BEAR COMMUNE. NOW THEY SUDDENLY FIND THEMSELVES CAST OUT OF PARADISE. THE IDEA THAT SHE HAS BEEN GONE A MONTH AND HASN'T GONE SIDEWAYS ON HIM WOULD JUST SHOCK ME, WHICH REALLY CONCERNS ME BECAUSE IN CASES LIKE THIS WHERE PEOPLE BECOME DESPERATE, THEY DO DESPERATE THINGS. THAT DESPERATION APPARENTLY FORCES CUMMINS TO LET HIS GUARD DOWN, REACHING OUT TO OTHERS FOR HELP. RETURNING TO THE NEARBY VILLAGE OF CECILVILLE, THEY FIND GRIFFIN BARRY, THAT GOOD SAMARITAN WHO'D GIVEN THEM MONEY AND DIRECTIONS A WEEK EARLIER. DID YOU REMEMBER THEM? NO, I COULDN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME. I WAS LIKE, 'WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN?' BUT I WAS LIKE, 'I'LL HELP YOU OUT.' I PUT 'EM IN THE CABIN. CAN YOU SHOW US THE CABIN THAT YOU PUT HIM IN? YEAH, FOR SURE. IT'S AT THE END. CUT OFF FROM THE WORLD, GRIFFIN IS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THE NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR THE COUPLE HE WAS HELPING OUT. DID HE SAY IF THEY WANTED TO BE BY THEMSELVES OR...? YEAH, HE WAS, YOU KNOW` OF COURSE HE TOLD ME THEY WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE. SO THIS IS WHERE THEY STAYED? YEAH. AND THOSE BOTTLES? THE WOOD CABIN IS UNFINISHED, HAS NO HEAT OR INSULATION, IT DOES LITTLE TO KEEP OUT THE COLD. THEY HAD` THEY LEFT SPARE BOTTLES HERE. SO THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE USING TO HAVE CLEAN WATER? TO MAKE SOME EXTRA MONEY, GRIFFIN PUTS THEM TO WORK COLLECTING RIVER ROCKS FOR A MASONRY PROJECT. SO THEY WERE HUNGRY? YEAH. THE GIRL GOT EXCITED WHEN I GAVE THEM SOME FOOD. AND HER, YOU DIDN'T REALLY GET TO TALK TO HER A WHOLE LOT? WHEN I WAS TRYING TO STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION` I PICKED THEM UP IN THE MORNING. I WAS LIKE, 'WHAT'S YOUR NAME?' AND SHE WAS LIKE, 'JOANNA,' AND THEN IT WAS ALMOST WITH LIKE AN ACCENT. THE QUIET GIRL AND WEIRD ACCENT SEEM ODD, SO STRANGE THAT GRIFFIN TELLS A NEIGHBOUR NEARBY SOMETHING SEEMS OFF. I WAS LIKE, 'THAT GIRL WON'T TALK, YOU KNOW, TO ME REALLY OR ANYTHING.' THAT NIGHT, THE NEIGHBOUR MAKES A STARTLING DISCOVERY, FINDING THIS AMBER ALERT, AND WARNS GRIFFIN THAT ONE OF HIS NEW FRIENDS MAY ACTUALLY BE A WANTED FUGITIVE. I SAW A PHOTO OF THE GUY AND I WAS LIKE, 'THAT'S DEFINITELY HIM.' THEN WHAT DID YOU GUYS DECIDE TO DO? WE WENT AND CALLED THE POLICE. OVERNIGHT, A SWAT TEAM ASSEMBLES OUTSIDE THE TINY CABIN. THERE THEY WAIT FOR CUMMINS TO EMERGE. THEY HAD PEOPLE EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY WERE HIDDEN. KNOWING THAT CUMMINS IS ARMED WITH TWO GUNS, AUTHORITIES LAY A TRAP TO LURE HIM OUT. THE PLAN ` GRIFFIN BARRY IS SUPPOSED TO PICK THEM UP FOR ANOTHER DAY OF HARD LABOUR. I YELLED A LITTLE BIT, LIKE, 'HEY, HEY!' I GUESS THAT'S WHAT ENDED UP WAKING THEM UP. THE POLICE POUNCE ON CUMMINS, AND IN AN INSTANT, THE MONTH-LONG SEARCH IS OVER. AND NOW TO NEW DETAILS IN THAT KIDNAPPING CASE. THAT TEACHER IS NOW UNDER ARREST TONIGHT. THE STUDENT HAS BEEN FOUND OK. THE NEWS SPREADS QUICKLY BACK EAST. I GET A TEXT FROM THE TBI THAT SAID, 'WE'VE GOT HER.' WHEN YOU SAW THAT TEXT... (CHUCKLES) WOW, I... I THINK THE WORLD STOPPED AND WENT BACKWARDS A COUPLE OF DEGREES. LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, ELIZABETH TEARFULLY REUNITES WITH HER FAMILY. I ACTUALLY... GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND RAN TO WHERE SHE WAS. YEAH. AND... IT WAS JUST AMAZING TO FINALLY GET TO SEE HER. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO HAVE HER TELL ME THAT SHE LOVED ME. I KNOW YOU WERE WORRIED SHE WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE YOU. YEAH. I WENT TO TEARS, OF COURSE. AND I THINK TAD HAD TOLD HER TOO, SHE CAN'T GO HOME BECAUSE YOUR DAD IS GOING TO BE MAD AT YOU. STILL, IN SOME WAYS THIS 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL HAS CHANGED, BOTH INSIDE... SOMETIMES SHE'LL BE HAPPY AND LAUGHING, AND SOMETIMES JUST IN A FOETAL POSITION CRYING. ...AND OUT. SHE HAS LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT. SHE SAID THEY WERE EATING FLOWERS AND THINGS. IN TENNESSEE, LOCALS ARE THRILLED WITH THE NEWS OF ELIZABETH'S RESCUE, BUT HER FAMILY IS FURIOUS AT THE SCHOOL, CONVINCED THEY MISSED A CHANCE TO PREVENT THE ABDUCTION IN THE FIRST PLACE. WELL, THE KISSING INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE 23RD OF JANUARY. THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT STARTED ON THE 24TH. ON THE 27TH, THEY WENT ON A FIELD TRIP TOGETHER. AND HOW MANY CHAPERONS WERE THERE? WE UNDERSTAND THERE JUST TO BE ONE, TAD CUMMINS. ELIZABETH'S FATHER DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE KISSING INCIDENT UNTIL MORE THAN A WEEK AFTER. CUMMINS STILL TEACHING AT SCHOOL, ELIZABETH REMOVED FROM HIS CLASS, BUT THE TWO FINDING A WAY TO BE TOGETHER. DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE PEOPLE AT THE SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER EYE ON WHAT WAS GOING ON? (CHUCKLES) ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. I MEAN, YES. DID THE SCHOOL DROP THE BALL? THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT, IN MY OPINION. THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS SAID THAT THEY FOLLOWED ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES BUT HAS CREATED A TASK FORCE TO STRENGTHEN POLICIES. BEFORE SCHOOL, WE TRY TO GET ANSWERS FROM PRINCIPAL PENNY LOVE. CAN YOU JUST TELL US WHY YOU DIDN'T CALL AUTHORITIES RIGHT AWAY WHEN YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TAD CUMMINS INCIDENT? DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT? SHE MAY HAVE TAKEN HER TIME ALERTING POLICE IN ELIZABETH'S CASE... (SIREN WHOOPS) GET OFF THE PROPERTY. ...BUT CERTAINLY DIDN'T HESITATE TO CALL WHEN WE APPROACHED WITH A QUESTION. AS FOR TAD CUMMINS' WIFE, JILL, SOME QUESTION WHETHER SHE COULD HAVE DONE MORE. THEY SEE THAT YOU KNEW HER, THAT YOU INTERACTED WITH THEM, AND THEY SAY, 'HOW DID SHE NOT KNOW SOMETHING WAS UP?' I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW. NO ONE KNEW. HE WAS FRIENDLY WITH` WITH EVERYONE. I MEAN, A CARING PERSON. SO YOU NEVER SUSPECTED ANYTHING? MM-MM. NO. NOT ONCE? NO. JUST DAYS AGO, GRIFFIN BARRY, THAT GOOD SAMARITAN WHO HELPED ELIZABETH, FLEW TO COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE, TO PICK UP HIS REWARD ` A $10,000 CHEQUE. YOU BROUGHT A FAMILY BACK TOGETHER. I MEAN, THAT'S ONE OF THE STRONGEST THINGS YOU CAN DO. I MEAN, HE'S A HERO IN MY BOOK. MEANWHILE, TAD CUMMINS HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH TRANSPORTING A MINOR, WITH THE INTENT TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY, ACROSS STATE LINES. AND HE MAY SOON BE HIT WITH MORE CHARGES. HIS LAWYER TOLD ABC NEWS CUMMINS' ACTIONS INVOLVED NO FORCE, THREATS OR COERCION, AND THE ALLEGED VICTIM LEFT OF HER OWN FREE WILL. THIS WAS NOT A KIDNAPPING. AS FOR HIS WIFE, JILL, WHOSE MARRIAGE WAS LEFT IN SHAMBLES,... HE BETRAYED MY TRUST TO A POINT THAT IT'S TOTALLY BROKEN. ...IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT SHE JUST FILED FOR DIVORCE. ELIZABETH IS NOW BEING TREATED AT A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY, BUT THERE IS ONE MORE REVEALING FACT ABOUT HER TIME ON THE ROAD. WITH LITTLE MONEY TO SPEND, ELIZABETH COLLECTED THE CHEAPEST SOUVENIR OF ALL ` ROADSIDE ROCKS LIKE THIS ONE FROM SOME OF THEIR STOPS ALONG THE WAY, LABELLING EACH WITH THE LOCATION WHERE SHE PICKED IT UP. PERHAPS A SIGN THAT SHE HAD ALWAYS HOPED TO RETURN HOME. SHE GOT ON ESPECIALLY FOR ME. AND, UM, SHE SAID THE FBI TOOK THEM ALL. (CHUCKLES) UM, JUST THE THOUGHT THAT SHE GOT THEM FOR ME... THAT SHE WAS STILL THINKING ABOUT YOU. YES, THAT MADE ME VERY HAPPY. A HAPPY ENDING FOR A VERY WORRIED FATHER. TAD CUMMINS, MEANWHILE, IS NOW FACING A RAFT OF CHARGES, AND IF HE'S FOUND GUILTY, HE COULD SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON. THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. KIA ORA. NGA MIHI.