{"id":146218,"date":"2021-11-30T16:37:12","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T16:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=146218"},"modified":"2021-11-30T16:37:12","modified_gmt":"2021-11-30T16:37:12","slug":"summer-wells-missing-massive-search-underway-in-tennessee-for-girl-5-who-disappeared-six-months-ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/summer-wells-missing-massive-search-underway-in-tennessee-for-girl-5-who-disappeared-six-months-ago\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Wells missing: Massive search underway in Tennessee for girl, 5, who disappeared six months ago"},"content":{"rendered":"

A MASSIVE search is underway for five-year-old Summer Wells who disappeared six months ago.<\/p>\n

Summer was last seen by her home in Hawkins County, Tennessee, on June 15 – and with no obvious leads,\u00a0her disappearance continues to prompt mystery.<\/p>\n


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The search for Summer has generated national interest – with multiple law enforcement agencies becoming involved, and\u00a0even\u00a0a $25,000 reward being offered up\u00a0for information on her whereabouts.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, dozens of agents and deputies were in the Beech Creek area to search for Summer. <\/p>\n

Trams were focusing on overgrown areas that they said "were previously difficult to access due to high grass and heavy foliage." <\/p>\n

Locals were urged to search sheds and outbuildings for the 3ft, blonde-haired youngster as the initial missing child probe was quickly escalated to a full scale Amber alert.<\/p>\n

Days after it emerged she had gone missing, investigators then released new images of\u00a0Summer with dramatically close-cropped hair\u00a0after it emerged her head had recently been shaved.<\/p>\n

With no new leads after a week of the search, it emerged a man – who didn't appear to be related to the family – offered a significant reward for any information on her whereabouts.<\/p>\n

David P. Garrahan of Kingsport sent a $25,000 check to the\u00a0Kingsport Times-News\u00a0on Monday June 21, as well as a letter, noting that he is "convinced that somebody knows something regarding [her] disappearance."<\/p>\n

Garrahan wrote, "Accordingly, I have enclosed a personal check in the amount of $25,000 to be given to the person who provides a tip\/information which leads to the discovery\/recovery of Summer Wells".<\/p>\n

A month after Summer's disappearance,\u00a0Charity EquuSearch Midwest joined police efforts\u00a0to try find the five-year-old.<\/p>\n

Authorities at the time reported that despite having received almost 1,000 tips, none of the leads produced any results.<\/p>\n

Investigators had been seeking the driver of a red Toyota pickup truck after a witness reported seeing the vehicle in the area around the time that Summer was last seen.<\/p>\n

Police said the driver could be a witness and asked them to come forward. To date, the driver has not been found.<\/p>\n

At the end of July, Donald Wells appeared on a podcast called "Jay is 4 Justice" and admitted his sons had been removed from their home.<\/p>\n

The decision came after the family had received threats and accusations of Summer's abduction online.<\/p>\n

Donald said on the show: "right now, with everybody attacking us and all this stuff going on, it\u2019s probably better for them."<\/p>\n

He also reportedly said that a lot of people were coming to him and accusing him of various things regarding the disappearance of his daughter.<\/p>\n

"I believed that stuff," Donald said. "Like an idiot, I believed it and I flipped out, started drinking, and everything else. And that's why they took our kids."<\/p>\n

At the end of last month, Donald was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence despite previously insisting he wouldn't allow his daughter's disappearance to drive him back to drinking.<\/p>\n

The Wells family issued a statement on their website\u00a0dedicated to finding Summer, calling his actions "stupid" and revealing that he'd been out driving in search of cigarettes at the time of his arrest.<\/p>\n

Donald was previously arrested\u00a0on domestic assault charges in 2020, leading Candus to file for an order of protection against him, writing: "I am afraid for my children and myself."<\/p>\n

She later asked for the order to be dismissed and the charges against Donald were dropped on April 21 – two months before Summer's disappearance.<\/p>\n

Donald and his wife\u00a0Candus are not believed to be suspects in the case.<\/p>\n

As the case continues, investigators have not shared any concrete theories about what might have happened to her – although Donald has previously said that the family\u00a0believes she was abducted.<\/p>\n

This has not yet been substantiated.<\/p>\n

In July, Donald offered the grim prediction that Summer is no longer alive.<\/p>\n

"Statistically speaking, there's a good chance she's already dead," Donald told the\u00a0Kingsport Times-News. "I hate to think that. I love her with all my heart."<\/p>\n

"If nothing else," he continued, "I'll see her in the resurrection. As long as I keep the commandments and do what I'm supposed to do, I'll see her."<\/p>\n

Investigators remain baffled by Summer's disappearance – with no current concrete leads or suspicions.<\/p>\n

The TBI is asking anyone with information about Wells\u2019 whereabouts to call 1-800-TBI-FIND or contact the Hawkins County Sheriff\u2019s Office at 423-272-7121.<\/p>\n


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