Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. While we do not discuss specifics about evidence gathered in an ongoing investigation, we can tell you that numerous search warrants have been executed, and any potential digital evidence has been collected. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Call the @HawkinsCountySO at 423-272-7121 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. She was 5 when she was reported missing, and would now be 6 years old. LIVE: Update on the ongoing search for missing 5-year-old Summer Wells, The Hawkins County community tells Ashley Bohle they are still on edge since Summer's disappearance. David Rader is with Equusearch, an organization that goes around the country to help find missing people. On June 16, authorities issued an Amber Alert on Summers behalf, meaning they thought she was in immediate danger. Have you searched the phones and computers belonging to the Wells family? Crews said they had searched more than 680 acres by the end of the day Thursday. LIVE: The state is asking rescue squads across Tennessee to help in search for missing Summer Wells. Additionally, K9 teams specializing in a variety of search methods have also been utilized. We had hoped to have good news to share with you by now, but unfortunately we do not, TBIs Public Information Officer, Leslie Earhart said. TBI representative Leslie Earhart took the stand at the media briefing, summarizing what investigators had done so far. She would never leave our hill. The Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads requested a statewide call-out for agencies across the state to help Sunday in the search for missing Summer Wells. TBI agents, working alongside the Hawkins County Sheriffs Office and the FBI, have conducted nearly 170 interviews during the investigation. As weve stated before, the circumstances surrounding Summers disappearance remain unclear, said Earhart. The Charlie Project, an organization that catalogs missing person cases, stated that Rose Bly was last seen in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, on Aug. 1, 2009. pic.twitter.com/jn86GvReIE. Market data provided by Factset. Four months after Summers disappearance, her parents created a YouTube channel dedicated to thanking the community for their efforts. They took their own PTO time out. In order to preserve the integrity of the investigation, we're not able to provide specifics.We continue to urge anyone with credible information to call 1-800-TBI-FIND. As this is an ongoing investigation, if you see any of our teams out and about, please do not convey via social media or other outlets where you may have seen our searches taking place. The flowers were planted in pots, and yes, the pots were examined. Have you searched the home and property around the residence? Have you conducted aerial searches? Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Criminal Investigation Division Criminal Investigation Division With approximately 120 employees, the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is the largest within TBI, responsible for providing specialized law enforcement services to agencies across Tennessee. Searching for Summer Wells | Don Wells releases letter to kidnappers. All rights reserved. She is about 3 feet tall and weighs around 40 pounds. Will Puckett gives a recap on everything we know about the disappearance of Summer Wells 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. 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. Summer Wells has been missing since June 15, just over two months. Summer was first reported missing from her home on Ben Hill Road in the Beech Creek Community of Hawkins Co. on June 15. Unreliable cell phone service and rugged terrain caused issues for search parties, and crews asked people to clear the area to help professionals ensure everyones safety. The reward fund for information leading to the location or recovery of the five-year-old has a current total f $250 according to Captain Tim Coup, Church Hill Rescue Squad. Officials said that Summers AMBER Alert is still active and her case is not considered a cold case. Once everybody leaves over there, its a 20-minute drive from Beech Creek back to [The Church Hill Rescue Squad.] An AMBER Alert remains active until a child is located. WVLT News spoke to Don Wells, who addressed concerns that foul play might have been involved in the case. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 600 days missing: The search for Summer Wells. The TBI announced more than 19 agencies were called in to assist in the search for the 5-year-old. Officials also drew attention to the red Toyota Tacoma, a truck they had released a description of during the course of the investigation. Authorities said Summers parents were upset about the situation and have been cooperative with law enforcement during the investigation. 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. Its the first official update in nearly a month. investigation reached nearly eight months. Unreliable cell service and difficult terrain was an obstacle for crews searching and the TBI asked that civilians leave the search to professionals to ensure the safety of everyone. Those with any information on the case are asked to contact 1-800-TBI-FIND. Are there places that I missed? 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. Investigators conducted a roadblock canvas Tuesday evening, speaking with drivers in the Beech Creek area. Summers case took the country by storm, inspiring state and volunteer search efforts and an ongoing investigation. The Wells family released a video on their website at midnight commemorating Summers birthday. Jail. According to TBI, the FBI has joined the search for the missing 5-year-old. As this is an ongoing investigation, we are limited to the details we can provide. 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. The father of Summer Wells raised concerns that he thinks there will not be a good outcome in the case. That vehicle was not captured on surveillance cameras. Her mother reports last seeing her on the afternoon of June 15th at their home in the 100 block of Ben Hill Road. Yes. Hawkins County officials later revealed Don Wells had been arrested on domestic assault charges in 2020. Click below to read the latest on the investigation. According to the protection order, Bly said Wells was mentally and physically abusive. Will additional searches be conducted? Yes, working alongside the Hawkins County Sheriffs Office and the FBI, numerous subpoenas and search warrants have been obtained, resulting in any available digital evidence being collected, searched, and documented. The smallest detail could prove beneficial to the investigation. Some being from one hilltop to the other hilltop, or at the start of the road and you might go a mile before you ever get to another residence, making that very difficult for residents just to be able to be at home while outside working or something and notice her leaving that area., Coup explained why they are not asking for volunteers to help in the search, Due to the extreme terrain, the nature of this, trying to locate her, trained professionals [are] what we need at this time to make sure that these residents dont become endangeredand expand this issue with having to search for somebody else.. Rescue officials said supply donations for crews assisting in the search have been paused due to overwhelming support. Crews will assess supplies at the end of the day Monday to see if they are in need of more donations. The search is planned to continue through Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/6NVbmkhXRw. In addition to air and land searches, ponds and creeks are also being checked. Statistically speaking, theres a good chance shes already dead, Don Wells told the Kingsport Times News. However, we are also aware that some individuals are using this case for their own personal gain by spreading false information on social media posed as facts. If you have any knowledge of or information on the whereabouts of Summer Wells, please call the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 800-TBI-FIND (800-824-3463) or send tips to TipsToTBI@tn.gov. If we do develop information that she was taken and we develop a suspect and a vehicle descriptionwe will share that immediately. Many of you are asking if we have a suspect or vehicle description. Whether a scam comes in the form or a ransom note or a fraudulent donation collection, Rader has advice for how to avoid losing money. The Mt. Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed that they have received just under 1,200 tips to date regarding the search for Summer Wells. This morning, we'll update that effort in an 11 a.m. media availability.WATCH HERE: https://t.co/bZPSvQppNG pic.twitter.com/q42cpWEXKk. Weve collected surveillance photos and videos from a variety of locations. https://twitter.com/TBInvestigation/status/1405180461375164419?s=20, Hickman County Man Charged with Homicide, Attempted Homicide, Drug Investigation Results in Two Arrests, Drug Seizure, NOW HIRING: Want to put your administrative skills to good use to help protect and serve the state? pic.twitter.com/HihurzP6Wy. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. June 26, 2021, marked a significant development in the case; TBI officials asked the public for information on a truck that had been seen in the area around the time of Summers disappearance. A few days after Summers disappearance, the TBI announced it was investigating Don Wells claims that Summer had been abducted. The TBI is asking anyone with information about Wells' whereabouts to call 1-800-TBI-FIND or contact the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office at 423-272-7121. The girls parents, Donald Wells and Candus Bly, have said they believe their daughter was abducted. We are asking residents who live in the area of Ben Hill Road to please check any trail cameras or surveillance cameras they may have for video or photos of Summer. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Bly later asked for a dismissal of the order of protection. The Church Hill Rescue Squad announced a reward fund has been set up for information leading to the discovery of missing 5-year-old Summer Wells. Coup is the captain of the Church Hill Rescue Squad and took 76 hours of paid time off from his job to work the search. Please know that we have never stopped, Lawson said. Will Puckett is live now with a timeline of events up to this point. 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. Live with the latest on the TBI Amber Alert for the missing 5-year-old Hawkins Co. girl https://bit.ly/3gAH2NP, TBI has issued an Amber Alert for the missing 5-year-old Hawkins Co. girl https://bit.ly/3q20K9j. Hawkins Co. Will Puckett is live now with more details. We want the public to know that the case is not cold and we arent giving up, the post read. UPDATE: The ongoing investigation into last week's officer-involved shooting in Carroll County has resulted in additional charges today. #TNAMBERAlert: New information and growing concern about the well-being of Summer Wells has us now issuing a statewide AMBER Alert. She was reportedly last seen wearing grey pants, a pink shirt and was possibly barefoot. The Hawkins County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continue to work alongside the FBI to determine what happened to Summer. Wells said he believed Summer was abducted but the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation still has no evidence to confirm that. Authorities asked the public to stop reporting rumors and speculation early in the investigation after they received hundreds of tips but no solid leads. Summer has blonde hair, blue eyes, stands 30, and weighs approximately 40 pounds. pic.twitter.com/xXMN9rGKjm. The search for missing 5-year-old Summer Wells continues Wednesday. WVLT News spoke to Don Wells Friday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Police asking for the publics assistance in locating a potential witness in the disappearance of Summer https://bit.ly/3hh4f7U. Her blonde hair is believed to be shorter than it appears in most of the pictures of her that authorities have circulated to help the search. Additionally, K9 teams specializing in a variety of search methods have also been utilized. Yes. Lawson also addressed the Hawkins County community as a whole, saying the support from this county and surrounding community is outstanding. Specifically he thanked those that helped support searches by doing things like bringing food for volunteers. Yes, working alongside the Hawkins County Sheriffs Office and the FBI, numerous subpoenas and search warrants have been obtained, resulting in any available digital evidence being collected, searched, and documented. Have you questioned neighbors and searched their properties? Its been the goal of this team since day one to find Summer, he said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In the now dismissed order of protection, Bly stated, I am afraid for my children and myself.. To know that we can still day-in and day-out provide the services that the community and the people that live in Hawkins County paying their taxes for them to provide their services to them, well continue to do it. By clicking Accept all you agree that Yahoo and our partners will process your personal information, and use technologies such as cookies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights, and product development. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. TODAY: TBI agents and Hawkins County deputies are in the Beech Creek area as part of a planned search for five-year-old #SummerWells. We cant begin to express our gratitude for the support and assistance from the Hawkins County community and surrounding areas. Posted at 12:17 PM, Jun 24, 2021 and last updated 2021-06-24 19:34:45-04 If you would like to make a contribution to the reward fund for Summer Wells, you can go to any Civis Bank Branch and tell them you would like to donate to the Church Hill Rescue Squads Reward Fund for Summer Wells. If youre a Christian God says you dont go there, period. Statistically speaking theres a good chance shes already dead, Don Wells told the Kingsport Times News on Monday. Amanda Hara shares new details from the TBI, including why they decided to issue an AMBER Alert for Summer Wells. The information released by the TBI throughout the investigation, including a list of frequently asked questions, can be reviewed below. That was a decision I knew going in that there was a possibility I was going to have to make not knowing how many days, how many hours we were going to be up there searching for Summer, said Coup. 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