AMBER Alert SUMMER WELLS: Missing from Rogersville, TN - 15 June 2021 - Age 5

AMBER Alert: Search continues for missing 5-year-old Summer Wells

Sheriff’s Office officials are asking for help in locating her.

www.wbrc.com

AMBER Alert issued for missing 5-year-old out of Hawkins Co.​

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide AMBER Alert for a missing 5-year-old girl from Rogersville in Hawkins County Wednesday morning.

Officials with the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to WVLT News that Summer Moon-Utah Wells went missing Tuesday night. Sheriff’s Office officials are asking for the public’s help locating the child.

Summer Wells has blonde hair and was last seen wearing grey shorts and a pink shirt on Ben Hill road, officials said. She has been missing since 7 p.m. Tuesday.

TBI officials said Summer Wells may now have shorter hair than that pictured in earlier alerts.

SUMMER WELLS has been missing from Rogersville, #TENNESSEE since 15 June 2021 - Age 5

Summer was last seen walking away from her home on Ben Hill Road, off Beech Creek Road, at around 7 p.m.

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Reward fund for missing Summer Wells remains open until June, exceeds $73K

Church Hill Rescue Squad provided an update on the reward fund for Summer Wells Monday.

www.wvlt.tv

Reward fund for missing Summer Wells remains open until June, exceeds $73K​

The Church Hill Rescue Squad provided an update Monday on the reward fund for Summer Wells, the missing Hawkins County girl at the center of an AMBER Alert.

The updated total in the reward fund, which was created to drive information leading to the discovery of the 5-year-old girl from East Tennessee, is $73,705.90.

The reward fund has also been extended to June 15, 2022, which marks one year since the girl disappeared from her residence on Ben Hill Road. The agency also addressed rumors that are allegedly circulating.

“Also, to address the rumors that have been circulating around that these funds come back to the Church Hill Rescue Squad at the end of the reward fund time, these are just that rumors and not true or credible no matter where they have originated,” the agency said. “Church Hill Rescue Squad will not be receiving any of these funds or benefit from the reward effort for Summer Wells.”

A spokesperson said they hope the extension will drive additional tips or leads in the case. The update noted that the funds would reportedly be dispensed to someone who provides credible leads/tips or the Child Advocacy Center.

Church Hill Rescue Squad said they continue to work alongside the Hawkin’s County Sheriff’s Office and other local, state and federal agencies assisting in the Summer Wells case.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mother of missing Summer Wells accuses girl's father of assault: Police report

The mother of missing 5-year-old Summer Wells accused Summer's father of grabbing her by the throat and pushing her against a wall, according to a police report from the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office. Summer's father said he did not lay a hand on her, the police report added. A deputy...

wcyb.com

Police report: Mother of missing Summer Wells accuses Summer's father of assault

The mother of missing 5-year-old Summer Wells accused Summer's father of grabbing her by the throat and pushing her against a wall, according to a police report from the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office. Summer's father said he did not lay a hand on her, the police report added.

A deputy responded to Ben Hill Road around 12:27 a.m. on January 19 following a 911 call in which Candus Bly accused Donald Wells of hitting her. The deputy made contact with Bly, who is the mother of Summer. Bly said her husband, Donald Wells, who is the father of Summer, grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the wall.

Bly said she thought her thumb was broke and said it happened when she got grabbed by the throat and possibly hit it on the washing machine. Bly said this happened about two to three hours before she called and she also said she was afraid of Wells.

According to Bly, both had been drinking. Wells told the deputy that they had been arguing but that he did not lay a hand on her. He also stated when he arrived at home between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. that Bly had already been drinking. According to the deputy, Bly spoke with Wells without any fear in the house. She also used her left hand to put her shoes on and while in her mother's camper, she used her left thumb to flick her cigarette, the deputy added.


The deputy also reported that Bly said she was going to stay with her mother in the camper and went to the house to get some of her things. She spoke with Wells again without any fear and was acting like she was not afraid of him at the time, the deputy added.

No marks were seen on Bly's neck and no bruising or swelling was seen on her thumb, according to the deputy. Hawkins County EMS said her thumb didn't appear broke and it appeared that she stubbed it.

The deputy referred both Bly and Wells to private prosecution and order of protection.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Wow. Didn't know about this but haven't been up on anything lately.

What is there to say...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Family will observe Summer Wells' 6th birthday next week in private

The wells family will observe their missing daughter Summer’s 6th birthday next week in private, most likely at church, according Summer’s father Donald Wells.

www.bluemountaineagle.com

Family will observe Summer Wells' 6th birthday next week in private​

The wells family will observe their missing daughter Summer’s 6th birthday next week in private, most likely at church, according Summer’s father Donald Wells.

Summer’s 6th birthday is Feb. 4.

Donald told the Review Tuesday that there has already been an observance for Summer’s birthday among friends in North Carolina, but it was held privately to avoid an onslaught of YouTube video producers and other media.

“I personally didn’t go because I had to work,” Donald said. “I was just was so afraid that there was going to be a bunch of YouTubers there so I didn’t want to go."

He said the birthday observance didn't mean as much without Summer beng there.

"Neither one of us went,” he said.

Donald said he’s not aware of any public observances on Summer’s birthday.

“I would rather just celebrate it in church versus anywhere else — in the church that she loves,” Donald added.

 

[kdg411]

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

 

[GrandmaBear]

Happy Birthday Summer.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Don Wells in jail for DUI charge, sons still in state custody

Don Wells, the father of missing 6-year-old Summer Wells, pled guilty to a DUI charge Monday.

www.wvlt.tv

Don Wells in jail for DUI charge, sons still in state custody​

Don Wells, the father of missing 6-year-old Summer Wells, was arrested on Oct. 30 for driving under the influence, according to a report from WJHL.

The 56-year-old was processed just after midnight on Oct. 31 and released later that morning. He was facing five charges; driving under the influence, open container, expired registration, improper lane usage, and violation of financial responsibility, according to a Hawkins Co. record-keeping app Mobile Patrol.

Wells pleaded guilty to the DUI charge on Monday, and the state dropped the rest of his charges from October. This was Wells’ first DUI, but since the arrest violated previous probation, he must serve the remainder of his 11 months and 29 days at the Hawkins Co. Jail, according to WJHL.

While in court, Wells told General Sessions Judge Todd Ross that he “wanted to get away” as he and Bly were arguing, to which Judge Ross responded, “that’s what feet are for,” the report stated.

Wells also said in court that he and Bly were taking classes to get custody of Summer’s brothers, according to WJHL.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Well, one can't say it isn't of their own doing but it is difficult not to have some sympathy for this family even though I don't know they are innocent.

However, Don did this before Summer ever disappeared and these are the consequences and he should be treated as anyone else because of it.

This family is likely to never recover with this added on imo. I wonder if he will be granted work release, he likely would be here, not sure about TN law.

They don't have the boys to support although they may have been ordered to pay towards their support, it is hard to say. I'm not sure their marriage will survive this or Candus can take care of herself but that is what it is sadly. It puts a real kink in getting their boys back but I guess like work release he could ask to be able to continue classes somehow to get his boys back.

Maybe though he won't be granted work release and maybe he shouldn't. He has had another DUI since and the only way this man might stay sober is with no release from jail.

His employer has been understanding--I wonder if the employer will continue to be.

Deserved, yes. Anyway one looks at this entire situation and case though, it's still sad. The main focus should be Summer but all of it is sad.

 

[Guess Who]

Well, one can't say it isn't of their own doing but it is difficult not to have some sympathy for this family even though I don't know they are innocent.

However, Don did this before Summer ever disappeared and these are the consequences and he should be treated as anyone else because of it.

This family is likely to never recover with this added on imo. I wonder if he will be granted work release, he likely would be here, not sure about TN law.

They don't have the boys to support although they may have been ordered to pay towards their support, it is hard to say. I'm not sure their marriage will survive this or Candus can take care of herself but that is what it is sadly. It puts a real kink in getting their boys back but I guess like work release he could ask to be able to continue classes somehow to get his boys back.

Maybe though he won't be granted work release and maybe he shouldn't. He has had another DUI since and the only way this man might stay sober is with no release from jail.

His employer has been understanding--I wonder if the employer will continue to be.

Deserved, yes. Anyway one looks at this entire situation and case though, it's still sad. The main focus should be Summer but all of it is sad.

I can see him losing it since he was already on edge before she disappeared. Not excusing him, but I don't see this as unusual at all. He seems to be the type that retreats into himself by drinking to start with. I do love that the judge told him that's why he has legs though. I thought that was the perfect statement to him.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I can see him losing it since he was already on edge before she disappeared. Not excusing him, but I don't see this as unusual at all. He seems to be the type that retreats into himself by drinking to start with. I do love that the judge told him that's why he has legs though. I thought that was the perfect statement to him.

I agree that was a good remark on the judge's part.

I'm not excusing him either and he was doing this before she went missing too but it is hard not to have some sympathy. I don't know what happened to Summer but even if he/they are responsible, they have been paying a price, not the price they deserve (prison) if they did something to her, but their lives and relationship were clearly not great to begin with but now they have lost the other children, are harassed, the most far fetched things said about them and I don't think they had great coping skills as it was in life for their age and even those that do wouldn't be able to cope with it all very well I don't think.

Maybe it will be a blessing in disguise. I think he has been cut more than a break or two already so maybe an "intervention"... He isn't the type probably that should have work release although the situation may allow it, he clearly turns to things in the extreme at times so he will likely if allowed any freedom at all... But then financially they will probably be in an even worse spot... And as to getting the kids back...

I don't see a great outcome for their remaining family no matter what...

 

[kdg411]

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Interesting...

Sheriff Lawson: Summer Wells’ family ‘not cooperating right now’

The sheriff would not speak any further regarding the Wells’ attorneys, but Lawson did stress again that social media speculation hindered the investigation from the beginning.

www.wjhl.com

Sheriff Lawson: Summer Wells’ family ‘not cooperating right now’​

Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson on Tuesday revealed that the family of missing 6-year-old Summer Wells is “not cooperating right now.”

Lawson followed that statement with a pause, adding that the family “has attorneys.” The news broke through as teams with the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) continued a small-scale search that launched on Monday.

The sheriff would not speak any further regarding the Wells’ attorneys, but Lawson did mention that no conversation or development led to Monday’s and Tuesday’s searches.

He stressed again that social media speculation hindered the investigation from the beginning, steering investigators off-course as they followed every lead in an effort to bring Summer home.

“[In] the first few months, it was pretty bad, but I think it’s gotten to now that we don’t pay attention to it whatsoever,” Lawson said. “I mean, it’s just a waste of our time. Occasionally, we get something we really want to check into, but people out of state — they really don’t know what we’re doing.

“And I assure you that we have given 100% effort. We — the TBI, the FBI, my officers — we have given 100% effort on this case. No stone’s left unturned, and we’re not done yet.”

The TBI previously expressed the “very real possibility” that Summer wandered off from her Beech Creek home nearly nine months ago.


Summer’s mother, Candus Bly Wells, sent the following statement regarding the search:

I am very happy that they are still looking for my daughter Summer. I heard about it, but I didn’t see anybody. Thank you for remembering her.
CANDUS BLY, MOTHER OF SUMMER WELLS

 

[GrandmaBear]

I had heard they lawyered up. I know it was recently said and that people assume they did so recently but I'm not sure they can really know when they did it. Of course the usual conjecture is out there as to maybe they know something, overheard a jail conversation, etc. because of both a new search and them lawyering up.

 

[Guess Who]

Interesting...

Sheriff Lawson: Summer Wells’ family ‘not cooperating right now’

The sheriff would not speak any further regarding the Wells’ attorneys, but Lawson did stress again that social media speculation hindered the investigation from the beginning.

www.wjhl.com

Sheriff Lawson: Summer Wells’ family ‘not cooperating right now’​

Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson on Tuesday revealed that the family of missing 6-year-old Summer Wells is “not cooperating right now.”

Lawson followed that statement with a pause, adding that the family “has attorneys.” The news broke through as teams with the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) continued a small-scale search that launched on Monday.

The sheriff would not speak any further regarding the Wells’ attorneys, but Lawson did mention that no conversation or development led to Monday’s and Tuesday’s searches.

He stressed again that social media speculation hindered the investigation from the beginning, steering investigators off-course as they followed every lead in an effort to bring Summer home.

“[In] the first few months, it was pretty bad, but I think it’s gotten to now that we don’t pay attention to it whatsoever,” Lawson said. “I mean, it’s just a waste of our time. Occasionally, we get something we really want to check into, but people out of state — they really don’t know what we’re doing.

“And I assure you that we have given 100% effort. We — the TBI, the FBI, my officers — we have given 100% effort on this case. No stone’s left unturned, and we’re not done yet.”

The TBI previously expressed the “very real possibility” that Summer wandered off from her Beech Creek home nearly nine months ago.


Summer’s mother, Candus Bly Wells, sent the following statement regarding the search:

I can't say that I blame them. Here we have TBI complaining about these issues and about how bad it is for them, imagine what the family is getting.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I can't say that I blame them. Here we have TBI complaining about these issues and about how bad it is for them, imagine what the family is getting.

Oh I agree. In this instance, I don't think it means a ton.
It throws up a red flag when your kid is gone for 48 hours and you lawyer up. But unfortunately Summer has been gone for 8.5 months. I don't blame them, especially with their other legal issues, for wanting a bit of legal advice / protection.
Didn't they have a lawyer already? When they did Dr. Phil? I feel like they said that they weren't allowed to talk about certain things cause their lawyer said so.
Maybe just this "no longer talking / cooperating" thing is what's new.

 

[GrandmaBear]

The only thing I wonder about is payment of a lawyer. They don't come cheap. He may have a public defender for the DUI kind of thing but as far as one to advise them with no charges yet relating to Summer wouldn't be free. We have no way of knowing but from all said and seen, they don't have any $$ sitting around and between DUI fines, prices, insurance, and missing work and now in jail, $$ has to be tight and I believe support was also owed the last I knew.

I haven't kept up with the info out there and maybe they have some help or funding but the last I knew that wasn't the case.

I don't recall them having a lawyer on Dr. Phil.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Okay I figured it out. They didn't have a lawyer (that we knew about publicly), but we did discuss the possibility that they may have a lawyer. Which is where that thought got into my head.

“Now this is something nobody else knows,” Bly said. “I was clearly told before ever agreeing to go to California that if anyone started to interrogate me on the trip, or any media anytime, then I was to just either go quiet, or walk away.”

Who told her to walk away? Do they have a lawyer? I haven't seen anything about them getting a lawyer that I can remember. And I don't think that mention of this "cornbread mafia", when she got emotional and wanted to walk away, would qualify as interrogating her?
I can't imagine local LE would tell anyone in this case to walk away from answering questions or speaking freely.

And then this is back from November as well.

On Monday, Wells said he has obtained a lawyer and cannot speak about the DUI arrest.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

 

[GrandmaBear]

I have seen some talk of her speaking but haven't had a chance to watch it yet.