Tad Cummins was a seemingly ordinary high school teacher from Tennessee whose actions shattered lives and sparked a nationwide manhunt. What began as whispers of an inappropriate relationship with his 15-year-old student, Elizabeth Thomas, escalated into a shocking abduction in March 2017, as the pair vanished without a trace, leaving behind a trail of deception and desperation.  

For 38 days, authorities scoured the country, piecing together clues from surveillance footage, abandoned vehicles, and cryptic sightings, while Elizabeth’s family clung to hope amid mounting fears. In this episode of the “Bad Teachers” series, Jim Chapman explores the twisted dynamics that led to their flight across state lines, the remote California cabin where their run came to a dramatic end, and the long road to justice—including Cummins’ 20-year prison sentence and Elizabeth’s courageous path to healing. 

Listener discretion advised: This episode contains discussions of grooming, sexual misconduct, and child exploitation.

Timestamps
01:14 Growing Up Fast
03:51 Tad Cummins Charismatic Persona
05:13 The Grooming Process Starts
06:48 Crossing Boundaries
10:27 The Plan
13:00 Life on the Run
14:46 The Amber Alert
19:31 That One Tip
35:23 Elizabeth's New Life

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