#LIVE Saturday, the TBI released a vehicle description for a potential witness in the disappearance of Summer Wells. All of the crews have searched more than 3,000 acres since Summer was reported missing June 15. Theyve been involved since the AMBER Alert was issued. Obviously the ones that were out there searching, their physical stress was much more than the ones in the command staff, he said. David Rader is with Equusearch, an organization that goes around the country to help find missing people. The law enforcement side of it, they utilized that center for part of their work so our board of directors felt led that that is where that money should go to benefit other children in our area.. Summer is. Forensic Chemist in Drug Chemistry. It will postpone those things from being done, but Im fine with that, he said. Physical and emotional challenges continue for crews searching for Summer Wells over the past several days. Three large-scale searches have occurred. According to investigators, both Summer Wells mother and father live together. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation took to Twitter on Feb. 4, Summer's seventh birthday, to address the case, saying they are still investigating. All rights reserved. Police seek a witness and continue to follow leads in the search for Summer Wells https://bit.ly/2SCEPJP. Of the 33, I had 25 actively involved in the search for Summer Wells, leaving me eight members to cover our normal calls and routine bases, Coup said. That vehicle was not captured on surveillance cameras. Officials are still searching for answers Friday in the disappearance of 5-year-old Summer Wells. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. At the time, the search had composed of 1,150 searchers that had logged more than 13,800 hours of searching. Summers mother, Candus Bly, later spoke to WJHL News about the case, saying she thought her daughter had been abducted. At this time, the circumstances of Summers disappearance remain unclear. We want to be clear that were doing everything within our power to find her, the bureau wrote in a Twitter thread on Wednesday. The TBI said it would only be searching the area from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. unless there was a credible tip to lead them to do otherwise. Three months missing, here's what we know about the search Just because we may not be seen as such a large presence in and throughout the area, rest assured that we have not quit and wont quit until we find Summer Wells, officials said. Call the @HawkinsCountySO at 423-272-7121 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. TBI asked anyone with credible information to call 1-800-TBI-FIND. We appreciate the publics ongoing interest in this case and urge anyone with credible information to call 1-800-TBI-FIND. (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) MISSING 5-YEAR-OLD SUMMER WELLS: REWARD REACHES . LIVE: She needs to be found. The non-profit search team, Equusearch Midwest, returns to aid in the search for missing Summer Wells, 5, out of Hawkins County. She was last seen Tuesday walking near her home in the Beech Creek community wearing a pink shirt and gray shorts. One year after the girl went missing, Summers father, Don Wells, released a statement. Service drug evidence from all of East Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/Bm50UIB08W. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. We continue to urge the public only to share information from official sources. The organization announced that crews would be in the Hawkins County area the weekend of July 24, and asked those that see them to refrain from posting about the search. Her grandmother also resides on the property where the 5-year-old went missing. UPDATED 6/15/22 At approximately 6:30 p.m. on June 15, 2021, Summer Wells was reported missing from her home on Ben Hill Road in the Beech Creek Community of Hawkins County. Please keep in mind that the Beech Creek area of Hawkins County is very rural, with few businesses and no traffic cameras. And so, I went down there to check, and she was nowhere in sight.. However, we havent given up, and we wont.. TBI officials said the agency continues to work alongside the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office and the FBI to search for answers in the case. However, we continue to investigate all possibilities. KNOX COUNTY - A joint investigation by special agents with the Drug Investigation Division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Knoxville Police Department, and the 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force has resulted in the indictment of four people in two counties on drug charges related to fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. TBI said many of the tips they have received are opinion and speculation which slow down the process. At a media briefing, Hawkins County Sheriffs Office officials said investigators had not identified any suspects or vehicles of interest. An ongoing multi-agency investigation focusing on those trafficking deadly drugs into Knox County and surrounding areas has resulted in the seizure of more than two pounds of fentanyl, likely saving countless lives. Zdazinsky told WVLT News that she had indeed walked along a road near what she believed was the Wells property, and even entered a shed she thought they owned. Once again, this is an active investigation in the efforts to locate Summer Wells and we do not want to hinder or interfere with this investigation, the update said. Some go as far as to solicit donations. More: https://bit.ly/3gW6crF. Authorities had received more than 30 tips in relation to Summers disappearance by the end of the day Wednesday. In light of the circumstances surrounding Summer Moon-Utah Wells's disappearance, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has released a warning for vulnerable children. TBI tweeted out photos of the terrain involved in the search area for Summer Wells Thursday afternoon. In January, as part of an ongoing investigation . Fox News Flash top headlines for August 4. In July, the Hawkins County Sheriff said that churning misinformation was hampering the investigation., The TBI said on Wednesday it had executed numerous search warrants in the course of the investigation, which has included exhaustive ground searches and dozens of aerial searches. Wells was last seen at her familys Hawkins County home on June 15 this year, after her mother said the 5-year-old returned inside after gardening with her grandmother. Sunday, in a release, the TBI announced it would be scaling back its search efforts in the search for Summer Wells due to the difficult terrain exhausting crews both physically and mentally. Should we develop that type of information, we will share it with you immediately. On Thursday afternoon, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation held a briefing to discuss the latest in the ongoing search for Summer. The TBI reported it was up to 137 tips in the case by Sunday afternoon. Have you searched the flower bed? Crews said they had searched more than 680 acres by the end of the day Thursday. Tennessee investigators again pushed back against social media rumors Wednesday in the case of missing Rogersville 5-year-old Summer Wells, who vanished from her home in mid-June. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Monday marks 600 days since an Amber Alert was issued for Hawkins County child Summer Moon-Utah Wells, and investigators are still trying to find out what happened. The mother of the missing 5-year-old Summer Wells spoke out publicly for the first time since the girls disappearance. The driver has not come forward, nor have the hundreds of vehicles reported to us as matching the description panned out. Don Wells told WVLT News at the time that his home was dangerous. He said the family had received threats on social media and multiple people had trespassed on the homes property, including people claiming to be psychics. |Find the latest coverage on Summer Wells as the search for the missing Rogersville girl continues. https://t.co/aezCJ2Qhhm#TNAMBERAlert pic.twitter.com/sYuk01W34H. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Summers parents, Wells and Candus Bly, have said they believe their daughter was lured out of the house and taken. Jail, where he remains, according to WJHL. TBI scaling back search efforts in the search for Summer Wells due to the difficult terrain exhausting crews. Our team continues to sift through hundreds of tips and it turns out that most of them are rooted in rumors and bad information spread on social media.. Earhart addressed the move at a press event. 47 6 thatphanom.techno@gmail.com 042-532028 , 042-532027 Since then, that number has jumped to 2,200, TBI officials told WVLT News. He isnt sure how much his rescue squad spent on supplies and other expenditures from the search for Summer Wells, but he assured that his agency will not be put in the red because of it. MORE: https://t.co/aezCJ2Qhhm pic.twitter.com/PF14VTzoI2. Bly told WJHL that she believes Summer was abducted. Along with the physical implications, mental and emotional stress lingers. Numerous searches from the air have been completed, especially during the first few weeks after Summer went missing. In January, as [] Testing for . Additionally, drones were used to map the area and to pinpoint bodies of water as well as any other points of interest. Please call 1-800-TBI-FIND only to report credible information, not speculation or rumors. Rescuers and crews spent hours looking for the little girl through the tough, mountainous terrain in the heat taking a toll on searchers. To date, weve received approximately 1,500 tips. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been collaborating with the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office on the case, and is working to determine the truth behind summer's disappearance. Yes, more than once, including the basement, crawl space, all vehicles, outbuildings, barrels, and other items located on the property. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has responded to "an uptick in misinformation being spread online" about Summer Wells, who went missing earlier this year. pic.twitter.com/jn86GvReIE. Everyone continues to ask if she wandered off, why did somebody not see her, said Church Hill Rescue Squad Captain Tim Coup. Carmel Freewill Baptist Church provided the location for a command post during all three large-scale searches. According to the protection order, Bly said Wells was mentally and physically abusive. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Hawkins Co. Wednesday marks 6 months since Summer Wells went missing from her Hawkins County home. Summer Wells has now been missing for 84 days and has been at the center of a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation AMBER Alert for 83 days. Summers brothers have been interviewed along with others who stayed in the home in the months before her disappearance. Search efforts will continue day and night for the missing child. Right now, in essence, pretty much all were going off of is anything credible, credible leads, credible information.. When the call was put out, a massive ground search in the area around her home began, with crews from across Tennessee and surrounding states stepping in to help. She would never leave our hill. In an effort to cover all bases and identify the driver, the TBI, in agreement with the Hawkins County Sheriffs Office and the FBI, released the vehicle description. None that weve developed at this stage. At the time she went missing, she was wearing gray pants, a pink shirt and may have been barefoot. #LIVE Saturday, the TBI released a vehicle description for a potential witness in the disappearance of Summer Wells. Weve noticed an uptick in misinformation being spread online about the search for 5-year-old Summer Wells, who went missing from her home in Hawkins County in June. Search crews continued searching the area by land and air while also starting to check surrounding ponds and creeks. The family was not the only group to take to YouTube during the case. Summer Wells (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) The sheriff said they have not ruled out a walk off, abduction, or other foul means in connection to her disappearance. She is three feet tall and weighs around 40 pounds. In addition to exhaustive ground searches, dozens of aerial searches have been conducted. https://twitter.com/TBInvestigation/status/1405180461375164419?s=20. That strict number was the ones that were out searching on the ground in Beech Creek.. Yes. News Channel 11 reached out to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for a statement Friday on the latest on the search for Summer and received the following reply: "The. Don Wells also said that TBI investigators had searched his home as part of the investigation and told WVLT News that the 5-year-old was not the first member of the family to go missing. Is this considered a cold case? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The smallest detail could prove beneficial to the investigation. We want to stress that this individual is not a suspect, but is a potential witness who may have heard or seen something that may help us in our search for Summer. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Lawmakers honor historic Fisk Gymnastics team, Lillard posts 71 points, 13 3s, then gets drug test, Predators GM David Poile retiring after season, Padres player draws first pitch clock violation, Vol baseball coach Vitello suspended three games, Find the latest coverage on Summer Wells as the search for the missing Rogersville girl continues, tweeted out photos of the terrain involved in the search area for Summer Wells, Investigators announced that ground search efforts will cease at 8 p.m. EST on Thursday, it was too early to tell if there was any foul play involved in the childs disappearance, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, Shooting suspect among 2 arrested after Tuesday chase, 2 men accused of killing, planning to eat bald eagle, FL moves to ban preferred pronouns in K-12 schools, Travis Scott allegedly punches man in club: sources, Parking permits, fee increases begin in the Smokies, Chocolate peanut butter cups recalled nationwide, Investigators seeking arsonist after Antioch fire, Baseball could take over broadcasting of 17 teams, KFC bringing back buzzworthy item after 9 years, Search for TN man missing over six months, Students pepper-sprayed at anti-racism protest, Educators push for pay raise, address staffing concerns, Serial robber arrested after targeting ATMs in Nashville. This total is from the two large ($25,000 and $10,000) donations of $35,000.00 at the beginning of the reward fund to open and start the reward fund. That center, in essence, serves most of the lower end of Hawkins County in our area, and actually that center was utilized during the search, he said. While law enforcement conducts the investigation, the physical search continues. Our hope was that the individual might have information that could help the investigation. The investigation into the disappearance of 5-year-old Summer Wells remains active and ongoing Thursday, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The mother of Summer Wells, a 5-year-old who's been reported missing in Tennessee, appears to have posted a video on TikTok about searching for her child. The purpose is to ensure that every inch of ground has been covered, especially overgrown areas and fields with high grass. Yes. MORE: Here are additional photos of Summer Wells, who is missing from Hawkins County. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. On Thursday, crews began conducting line searches in the Beech Creek area of Hawkins County. Officials questioned drivers to see if they noticed anything out of the ordinary on the day Summer went missing. Church-goers at the Kingsport Seventh-Day Adventist Church are keeping the family in their thoughts, Ryder said. The heinous crime aroused the emotions of citizens throughout the region. Yes. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Being in contact with TBI, Hawkins County Sheriffs Department, something they feel as though needs to be a credible search, need to go back in and look over things again, were right there with them hand-in-hand doing those things.. : REWARD REACHES search continues house and taken the AMBER Alert was.! 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