He was not on the property when the pair was there. The cabin is close to a commune called Black Bear Ranch but it's not part of the commune, said the cabin's owner, Monk O'Hare. The TBI earlier had said the two were found in a commune, but later backed off that description. They confirmed through the VIN number that it belonged to Cummins. Siskiyou County deputies searched the area and found a silver Nissan Rogue parked outside the cabin, TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said. The caller said Cummins had taken up residence in Cecilville, about two hours from the nearest police station. The break came when someone encountered Cummins in Siskiyou County, more than 2,000 miles from Culleoka, and called the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation tip line. Surveillance video showed the pair at a Walmart in Oklahoma City on March 15. Cummins had been suspended after a student reported seeing them kissing in a classroom. The pair disappeared as a police investigation into their relationship was heating up. NEWS ALERT: Tad Cummins is under arrest and Elizabeth Thomas has been safely recovered in Northern California.

'Now begins another hard chapter, but for now, we celebrate.' 'There aren't words in the English language to describe the level of relief and elation experienced by the Thomas family,' said Jason Whatley, attorney for the family. Cummins face federal and state charges stemming from her disappearance.īut the search for answers is far from over. The arrest ends a nationwide manhunt that began on March 13, when Cummins fled with Elizabeth from their small town of Culleoka, Tennessee. The cabin's caretaker alerted law enforcement to their presence and helped them hatch a plan to draw Cummins from the residence unarmed and without Thomas, the cabin's owner told CNN. The pair spent one night in the cabin before the arrest, but they may have been in the area for about a week, Gilley said. Mike Gilley.Įlizabeth Thomas was found safe in a remote cabin in Cecilville, northwest of Redding. 'I'm glad this is over,' 50-year-old Tad Cummins said after his arrest, according to Siskiyou County sheriff's Sgt. The commune outlines “traditional guidelines” they say must be followed by anyone who stays or visits the ranch for longer than one week.(CNN) - After five weeks on the run, a Tennessee teacher who kidnapped and fled with his 15-year-old student was arrested Thursday deep in the mountains of northern California, authorities said.

The reason why wasn’t immediately known.Īccording to their website, Black Bear Ranch was founded in 1968 by people who wanted to “get back to the land, get out of the city, and start a new life together in the mountains.” While the TBI said they were found at a commune, they have not confirmed which one.Īccording to ABC affiliate KDRV-TV, the pair had stayed at the Black Bear Ranch in Cecilville for at least two days while in northern California. KDRV reports Cummins and Thomas were going by different names and a member of Black Bear asked them to leave.

Related: Tad Cummins arrested, Elizabeth Thomas rescued in Northern California The Tennessee Bureau of investigation said a tip in the Amber Alert case came in late Wednesday night, and authorities in Siskiyou County, where Cecilville is located, arrested Cummins the next morning and safely rescued Thomas. ( WKRN) – Tad Cummins, the former Tennessee teacher accused of kidnapping 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas, was arrested Thursday at a commune in Cecilville, California, after 38 days on the run.

Tad cummins arrested in california