Tad Cummins' Wife Admits Kidnapped Teen Elizabeth Thomas Was Exploited, Brainwashed By Her Husband

Jill Cummins, the wife of Tad Cummins, who is accused of kidnapping his ex-student Elizabeth Thomas, admitted Saturday that her husband exploited and brainwashed the 15-year-old Tennessee student. Tad and Elizabeth, both of who disappeared in March, were found mid-April in Northern California’s remote Siskiyou County, where they were living in a cabin.

In an interview with Inside Edition, Jill Cummins said she felt betrayed by the teenager for getting romantically involved with her husband. Elizabeth visited the couple several times and they were helping the teen through some tough times and thought of her as another daughter, Jill said. While Jill did not suspect an affair between her husband and his student, she did warn him to stay away from her when she noticed him getting a little too friendly with Elizabeth.

"He was getting really close to her," Jill said. "A father-daughter close, a friendship close, and I knew that. I discussed that with him. And explained to him, 'She's your student, you can't be so close to her.'"

Read: Teen Allegedly Kidnapped By Ex-Teacher Gets Counseling After Being Found

But she added: "Never did I think there was a romantic thing between the two of them. There were no signs of that."

Jill filed for divorce from Tad when he disappeared with the teenager in March. After their disappearance, Tennessee’s law enforcement officials suspected Tad played a role, and issued a warrant against him for kidnapping and having sexual contact with a minor.

"I feel slightly betrayed by her because she knew me," Jill added. "I don't really want to talk to her. It's not the right time. Maybe one day."

Suspicions over the relationship between Tad and Elizabeth were raised after an unidentified student reported seeing the two kissing in his classroom.

Tad's wife also assisted police with the investigation with every clue she could.

"They would send me pictures from surveillance cameras to get my opinion whether or not it was him," she claimed.

Tad and Elizabeth were found after being in the hiding for over five weeks. According to the criminal complaint filed against Tad, Jill told investigators the 50-year-old was prescribed Cialis, an erectile dysfunction drug, and that he took two refills of the drug before disappearing.

After receiving the information, police asked pharmacy employees to be on the lookout for Tad and Elizabeth.

The 15-year-old was reunited with her family and is currently receiving counseling at an undisclosed location while her alleged abductor has been arrested. Among other charges, Tad faces one federal count of transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, he could face a minimum 10 years of prison sentence and a maximum of life imprisonment.

Last week, Tad appeared in court in Sacramento, California, where a federal judge approved a request to transfer him to Tennessee to face charges.

In another interview with Inside Edition, Jill revealed the details about her conversation with Tad after his April 20 arrest.

"I said, 'Well, did you sleep with her?' And he said, 'Yes I did,'" Jill said, in the interview. "And I didn't want any details, but I knew the truth. I just wanted to hear it from him to me."

Jill also said Cummins asked her for forgiveness and said he loved her.

"It was very hard to hear his voice after all this time not knowing if I was going to hear it again," she said. "But he told me he was sorry. He told me he loved me and to please forgive him.”