-
The kiss
A student reports seeing Elizabeth Cummins and her teacher, Tad Cummins, kissing in a classroom at school. -
Incident investigated
The school begins investigating the allegations of the kiss. Both Cummins and Thomas deny it happened. -
Off the job
Cummins is suspended from his job without pay while the school district investigates the alleged kiss. -
The disappearance
Thomas is dropped off at a Shoney's in Columbia, Tenn., by a friend. Cummins is seen gassing up at a nearby Shell station. Neither is heard from after that. The only trace is a ping on a cell phone tower in Decatur, Ala. -
Cummins fired
News of their disappearance starts to spread. Cummins is fired from Culleoka School Unit. -
AMBER Alert issued
The AMBER Alert is issued for Elizabeth's disappearance. -
Cummins added to TBI list
Tad Cummins is added to Tennessee's most wanted list. As the investigation continues, investigators say they learn Cummins researched teen marriage and whether law enforcement could track his vehicle. -
Spotted in Oklahoma
TBI says they've found the only sighting on Cummins and Thomas: surveillance images from a Walmart in Oklahoma City that were taken March 15, two days after they disappeared from Tennessee. They bought food items with cash. Updates about the search become more and more infrequent from this point. -
Found in California
Authorities in Siskiyou County, Calif., find Cummins' Nissan Rogue without a license plate. Cummins and Thomas are found later at a remote cabin in Cecilville, a community in northern California. Cummins is arrested without incident and Thomas is safe, authorities say.
