Elizabeth Thomas was just 15 years old when she disappeared with her 50-year-old high school teacher, Tad Cummins, in March 2017. Their disappearance sparked a nationwide manhunt.
Investigators later revealed Cummins had spent nearly a year grooming her—flirting, giving her gifts, and convincing her they shared a secret bond. When school officials began investigating, he panicked and abducted her.
For 38 days, they hid in a remote cabin in Northern California until police finally tracked them down. Elizabeth had been manipulated into believing she was in love, but when the lies fell apart, so did his control.
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