S. Jason Whatley, the family attorney of the Thomases, has just released a statement that 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas was comfortable in the company of her family. However, the statement also said that the teen suffered from "severe emotional trauma" and is currently getting treated by mental health experts.
The statement, which was published in full on WHNT News, labeled Elizabeth's disappearance as "the abduction of an impressionable, little child." The statement also included a personal statement from the lawyer, who said that he first thought that the teen was a 12-year-old because of her young appearance.
Elizabeth was kidnapped by 50-year-old Tad Cummins, a former teacher of hers, on March 13. According to AOL, the disappearance from their hometown in Culleoka, Tennessee was triggered after a student reported that the two were caught kissing in a classroom. The teacher was subsequently suspended from the school after he ignored the order that prohibits Elizabeth from entering the classroom where he teaches.
The two were finally found when a tip was given to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which followed the lead to northern California. Elizabeth and Cummins were found on April 20 inside a cabin in a remote area within the state.
Cummins, who is married, was put on the Top 10 "Most Wanted" list while he was on the run. He was charged for transportation of a minor across state lines for the purpose of having criminal sexual intercourse.
Kat Bozeman, Elizabeth's sister, has recently given an interview with WKRN regarding her family's ordeal. "It's a roller coaster. Some days are good you see her more, some days are bad you see her less. So it's a long, long road ahead of us," she said.
Bozeman said that according to Elizabeth, she was not able to contact her family during the period she was with Cummins because she did not have any way of communicating with them. "She told us she didn't have access to telephone, Internet, any electronic devices. There was not availability to food all the time, is the understanding. Obviously, we are really trying not to press her, because it's really traumatic for her to remember all of these things," she said.
Bozeman also mentioned in the interview that her sister is currently in a mental health facility for treatment. Visitation with family and friends in the institution are currently limited.
