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U.S. NEWS Friday 21 april 2017

Tennessee girl safe, teacher arrested near California cabin

SHEILA BURKE late Wednesday night that fornia police worked quick-
Associated Press the pair may have taken ly and were able to find
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A up residence in the woods them and get her safe,”
15-year-old Tennessee girl in Siskiyou County, perhaps one of the girl’s sisters told
was rescued near a cabin for more than a week, The Tennessean.
in a remote part of north- bureau spokesman Josh “I believe the FBI are going
ern California on Thursday, DeVine said. The remote, to make sure she’s healthy
more than a month after mountainous area has lim- before she comes home,”
her 50-year-old teacher ited cellphone service and she said. “We’ll make sure
kidnapped her and set off the terrain is difficult to tra- she’ll get what therapy she
a nationwide manhunt, verse. Snow was still on the needs and that she’s safe,
authorities said. ground in some places. that she knows she’s safe.”
Health sciences teacher Authorities had earlier said The Associated Press is not
Tad Cummins surrendered the arrest happened at a naming the girl or her fam-
to sheriff’s deputies with- commune but later clari- ily members because she is
out incident in Cecilville, fied that it occurred in a an alleged victim of a sex
California, hours after they very remote area and that crime. Court papers filed
had set up surveillance on they were still collecting recently in the girl’s disap-
his vehicle in the area, the evidence. pearance said she was
Tennessee Bureau of Inves- The pair’s disappearance afraid of the teacher and
tigation said. The girl was March 13 came after Cum- thought she would face
apparently healthy and mins was investigated by repercussions at school if
unharmed, and authorities the school system when she resisted him. A lawyer
said their main concern another student reported for the girl’s family has said
was her emotional and This photo released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations seeing the then-married the teacher was allowed
mental state. shows Tad Cummins in Tennessee. Authorities said a 15-year- teacher kiss the girl at to continue working at the
“We couldn’t be happier old Tennessee girl who disappeared with Cummins, who was the Culleoka Unit School. school for two weeks after
to tell you she will soon be her teacher, last month has been found safe in California and Culleoka is a community he was reported kissing the
the teacher has been arrested.
on her way back home to (Tennessee Bureau of Investigations via AP) about 60 miles (100 kilome- girl. Attorney Jason Whatley
Tennessee,” Tennessee Bu- ters) south of Nashville near has said the school system
reau of Investigation Direc- needs to be held account- girl,” Gwyn said. the Alabama state line. must have not believed the
tor Mark Gwyn said. able for kidnapping this Authorities received a tip “We’re so happy that Cali- student’s report. q
Cummins faces state
charges of aggravated
kidnapping and sexual New York City firefighter falls several stories, dies
contact with a minor as
well as a federal charge of
taking a minor across state NEW YORK (AP) — A New other people suffered mi- mate sacrifice.” department.”
lines to have sex. If convict- York City firefighter died nor injuries before the blaze It was too early to say what The fire was not considered
ed of the federal charge, Thursday after falling five was brought under control caused the firefighter to fall suspicious, Nigro said.
he faces at least 10 years in stories while battling a fire in less than an hour. about 20 minutes into the Angie Cordero, 43, told
prison, acting U.S. Attorney in Queens, officials said. Democratic Mayor Bill de firefight. The circumstances Newsday she was watch-
Jack Smith said. William Tolley, 42, was on Blasio said the 14-year remained under investiga- ing the fire from her house
Authorities declined to an- the roof of the apartment veteran from Ladder 135 tion. across the street when the
swer a question on wheth- building during a fire that Engine 286 in Ridgewood “It was really in the opera- firefighter fell.
er the girl went willingly, started in a second floor leaves behind his wife, Ma- tion that he was performing “I was just looking at what
saying it didn’t matter. apartment just before 2:30 rie, and a daughter, Isabel- on the roof, was happening.
“At the end of the day p.m. when he fell, accord- la, 8. which is a routine opera- All of the sudden I heard a
she’s 15 years old, she’s 15 ing to Fire Commissioner “A man dedicated to pro- tion for us, and somehow noise,” she said.
years old, she’s a young Daniel Nigro. tecting others gave his life he fell from the roof,” said “I just saw when the body
girl that’s with a grown Tolley was rushed to a hos- for this city,” de Blasio said. Nigro, who called his death came over. I started to
man that’s 50 years old. He pital where he died. Three “Today he made the ulti- a “terrible tragedy for the scream.”q