TBI Newsroom UPDATED 6/15/22 – At approximately 6:30 p.m. on June 15, 2021, Summer Wells was reported missing from her home on Ben Hill Road in the Beech Creek Community of Hawkins County. At that time, no one imagined we would still be searching for her a year later.

We’ve said from the beginning that this case is outside of the norm. There are few clues as to what happened to Summer despite investigators doing everything within their power to find answers. All possibilities are still being explored.

Many of you have asked for details about what’s been done in the last year. We can tell you that agents and detectives have worked thousands of hours on this case. Numerous search warrants have been executed. Cell phone data has been analyzed, and any other available digital evidence has been collected, searched, and documented. This includes the social media accounts of those associated with Summer. Three large-scale ground searches have taken place in the last year with the assistance of more than a hundred local, state, and federal agencies. Those searches don’t account for the numerous other targeted searches that agents and detectives have done while following up on potential leads.

From TBI alone, more than 100 agents, intelligence analysts, and support staff from across the state have been involved in this case. TBI agents, working alongside the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, have conducted nearly 170 interviews during the investigation. That does not count the hundreds of phone calls made to follow up on tips reported to law enforcement that were the result of non-factual information posted on social media.

While investigators have been diligently working to find answers, they’ve had to deal with hundreds of tips generated by false information that – in some cases – has been intentionally spread across social media platforms. To date, we’ve received well over 2,000 tips. The vast majority of those pertain to rumors and speculation. We know that this case has attracted the attention of many across the country who genuinely care about Summer and want nothing more than to help find answers, and we appreciate the interest. However, we are also aware that some individuals are using this case for their own personal gain by spreading false information on social media posed as facts. Some go as far as to solicit donations. This has had a major impact on the investigation.

Moving forward, we ask the public not to submit tips as a result of a video you have viewed on YouTube or a theory you’ve seen posted on Facebook. Please help us and only call if you have direct, specific information about the disappearance of Summer.

We can’t begin to express our gratitude for the support and assistance from the Hawkins County community and surrounding areas. The Mt. Carmel Freewill Baptist Church provided the location for a command post during all three large-scale searches. Numerous organizations and businesses made sure search teams and investigators had food, drinks, and other supplies. The contributions of the members of each rescue squad and volunteer fire department within Hawkins County simply can’t be measured. We also appreciate the cooperation of the property owners in Beech Creek, most of which gave us whatever access we needed.

We want to assure everyone who has been part of this investigation or has been following this case that it is not cold. We continue to follow up on potential leads and will not give up on finding Summer.

Below is an updated list of frequently asked questions regarding the investigation.

Is this considered a cold case? No. Investigative work continues to occur almost daily.

Is the AMBER Alert still active? Yes. An AMBER Alert remains active until a child is located.

When was Summer last seen? Her mother reports last seeing her on the afternoon of June 15th at their home in the 100 block of Ben Hill Road. In order to preserve the integrity of the investigation, we will not provide additional information regarding the timeline.

Have you searched the home and property around the residence? Yes, more than once, including the basement, crawl space, all vehicles, outbuildings, barrels, and other items located on the property. Additionally, K9 teams specializing in a variety of search methods have also been utilized.

Have you searched the phones and computers belonging to the Wells family? Yes, working alongside the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, numerous subpoenas and search warrants have been obtained, resulting in any available digital evidence being collected, searched, and documented. This includes social media accounts.

Have you analyzed cell phone data? Yes. Cell phone data and cell tower data have been analyzed.

Have you searched the flower bed? There was not a flower bed. Summer’s mother and grandmother stated that she was planting flowers with them shortly before she was last seen. The flowers were planted in pots, and yes, the pots were examined.

How many ground searches have been conducted? Three large-scale searches have occurred. Dozens of other targeted searches have been conducted over the last year as a result of investigators following up on leads.

Have you searched waterways in the area? Yes. Dive teams were brought in to search bodies of water in the area on several different occasions.

Have you conducted aerial searches? Yes. Numerous searches from the air have been completed. Additionally, drones were used to map the area and to pinpoint bodies of water as well as any other points of interest.

Will additional searches be conducted? Investigators will continue to search points of interest as they are developed as well as follow up on all tips regarding Summer’s whereabouts.

Have you collected and reviewed surveillance video? Yes. We’ve collected surveillance photos and videos from a variety of locations. Additionally, the entire area was canvased in an effort to locate any residential cameras that weren’t voluntarily reported. Please keep in mind that the Beech Creek area of Hawkins County is very rural, with few businesses and no traffic cameras.

Have you questioned the parents? Yes. Both have been questioned more than once.

Have you questioned others that were in the home at the time Summer went missing? Yes. Summer’s brothers have been interviewed along with others who stayed in the home in the months before her disappearance.

Have you questioned neighbors and searched their properties? Yes.

Have you questioned registered sex offenders in the area? Yes.

Is there evidence that Summer was abducted? None that we’ve developed at this stage. However, we continue to investigate all possibilities.

Is the FBI involved? Yes. They’ve been involved since the AMBER Alert was issued. Additionally, in the first week, the FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) team responded to the area. FBI agents continue to assist with the investigation.

Why did you release information about a Toyota Truck? An individual who travels through the area regularly as part of his job stated that he recalls possibly seeing a 1998-2000 maroon or red Toyota Tacoma, with a full bed ladder rack and white buckets in the truck bed. The individual stated that the truck might have been parked in the area of Beech Creek Road and Ben Hill Road in the late afternoon to early evening on either Monday, June 14th, or Tuesday, June 15th. That vehicle was not captured on surveillance cameras. In an effort to cover all bases and identify the driver, the TBI, in agreement with the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, released the vehicle description. Our hope was that the individual might have information that could help the investigation. The driver has not come forward, nor have the hundreds of vehicles reported to us as matching the description panned out.

UPDATED 3/2/22 – The investigation into the disappearance of Summer Wells remains active and ongoing. This week, teams returned to Hawkins County as part of a planned search that focused on previously identified areas of interest. Additionally, agents and detectives continue to follow up on potential leads. We ask anyone with credible first-hand information regarding Summer’s disappearance to call 1-800-TBI-FIND.