Missing Teen Shared a Cryptic Instagram Post Before Her Kidnapping

From Good Housekeeping

Update, March 21, 2017: New information indicates Elizabeth Thomas worried for her safety before disappearing last week. The teen told a family member that she was spending a day with a female friend, but her following words were deeply concerning.

"She confided in one of her siblings that if she was not back by 6 p.m. that day and she was to disappear, to call the police," her family's attorney Jason Whatley told People.

Her directions shed some additional light on a mysterious Instagram posted just days before the alleged kidnapping. An account attributed to Thomas by Inside Edition and the Daily Mail includes a drawing of Beauty and the Beast, with the quote, "Every beauty needs her beast to protect her from everything but him."

The account's bio also includes some disturbing information. In addition to "Class of 2019," Thomas wrote "wife" alongside a ring emoji.

In the past 24 hours, investigators released the last known photo of Thomas. They also shared surveillance footage of Cummins buying female hair dye several days before the abduction.

With no new sightings, the Columbia, Tennessee, community is raising awareness of the kidnapping by hanging green ribbons, the teen's favorite color. Again, anyone with information is urged to call the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Original, March 20, 2017: With tips dwindling, authorities are increasingly worried about the safety of missing teen Elizabeth Thomas. A former teacher allegedly kidnapped the high school freshman last Monday, triggering an ongoing AMBER Alert in Tennessee and Alabama.

The 15-year-old attended school in Maury County, Tennessee, where another student reported inappropriate sexual contact between the two back in January. Culleoka Unit School suspended and then dismissed Tad Cummins, 50, potentially prompting the abduction.

A friend last saw Thomas at Shoney's restaurant in Columbia, Tennessee, one week ago. Surveillance footage caught Cummins filling up his silver Nissan Rogue nearby around the same time. Authorities believe they're travelling together in the car, which has the Tennessee license plate 976-ZPT.

Cummins, who's 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds, is reportedly armed with two handguns. Authorities are extremely worried for Thomas's safety. "Nothing investigators have learned about Cummins or his intentions for the young girl since issuing the AMBER Alert calms the imminent concern for Elizabeth's well-being," said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. "In fact, it only heightens it."

Investigators originally placed Thomas near Decatur, Alabama, on the day of her disappearance, but no credible sightings have followed. Because of the low number of tips, they believe that the suspect is hiding the teen by sleeping in the vehicle or travelling to a rural community. "Having now been on the run for more than five days, Cummins may have taken her, frankly, anywhere," TBI shared on Saturday.

Thomas is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds, and she was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and black leggings. Her family conducted a candlelight vigil this weekend, holding out hope they'll see her again.

"What Tad did, he stole my daughter from me," father Anthony Thomas said. "We are going to get her back. We are going to get her back. Please help us bring her home."

Tad Cummins's wife also issued an emotional statement, begging him to turn himself in. "Tad, this is not you. This is not who you are. We can help you get through this," Jill Cummins said at a press conference. "No matter how far you've gone or what's happening right now, God's grace is sufficient for you and He wants you to come home."

Anyone with information about their whereabouts is urged to call the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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