Elizabeth Thomas’ Parents’ Divorce Hearing Set In June After Tad Cummins Indicted On Teen’s Kidnapping Charges

A hearing date has been set for Tennessee teen Elizabeth Thomas’ parents’ divorce case, the Columbia Daily Herald reported Tuesday. Elizabeth’s father Anthony Thomas filed for divorce from Kimberly Ann Thomas over a month before the 16-year-old went missing with her then teacher Tad Cummins in March.

The first hearing will be June 26 in Maury County Chancery Court and will be presided by Judge Stella L. Hargrove, according to the Columbia Daily Herald. Anthony had filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences with Kimberly and inappropriate marital conduct.

Read: Tad Cummins’ Letter To Wife Before Absconding With Elizabeth Thomas Enters Evidence

Kimberly, 48, also faced charges related to child abuse and for neglect for allegations of malicious behavior toward her children. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 9, the Columbia Daily Herald reported.

"We are afraid of Ms. Thomas giving interviews or speaking," Anthony lawyer Cory Ricci told the Tennessean on April 25. "If it airs, Elizabeth will be terrified. She's very, very scared of her mother."

Kimberly reportedly beat four of her 10 children, including Elizabeth. She is also alleged to have bashed Elizabeth’s head on a washing machine. However, Kimberly denied of the allegations telling News Channel 5 on March 23: "I'm not guilty of those."

Last January, she was indicted on one felony and multiple misdemeanor child abuse charges. The court has ordered her to stay away from the children. Local law enforcement officials had arrested her last year, but she was released on a $3,000 bond.

Elizabeth was found April 20 in northern California with Cummins, who taught health sciences at her Culleoka Unit School in Maury County. At the time the 50-year-old was suspected of kidnapping the minor. Cummins was transferred to Tennessee to face several charges related to the alleged kidnapping.

On May 18, the federal grand jury indicted Cummins on charges of illegally transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity among others. This charge alone carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The former teacher was also charged for destructing, modifying or falsifying records in a federal investigation. Conviction on this charge can land Cummins up in jail for up to 20 years. He reportedly destroyed his and Elizabeth’s mobile phones when they were on the run. Cummins pleaded not guilty to charges for sexual contact with a minor and aggravated kidnapping.

Reports recently said Elizabeth may have fled with Cummins willingly. However, her family lawyer James Whatley, denied the reports in an interview with People magazine May 17.

“This is classic grooming and manipulation,” Whatley reportedly said. “And I predict this case will be studied years in the future about how authority figures like Tad Cummins can mess up young children who believe their lies and are manipulated into doing things they would never do.”

On May 12, FBI agent Utley Noble, in his testimony said Cummins had sex with Elizabeth on most nights when they went missing.

Cummins’ wife Jill told Inside Edition in April: “I asked, ‘Well, did you sleep with her? And he said, ‘Yes, I did,’ and I didn’t want any details.”