The mother and father of a missing Tennessee girl both have prior criminal histories.
Summer Wells, 5, was reported missing on June 15 from her Rogersville home; launching a massive search of the remote, densely wooded area of east Tennessee. Summer’s parents have said they believe she was abducted, while a spokesperson for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has said the circumstances of Summer’s disappearance are unclear. Authorities have not ruled out foul play, but have not named any suspects or persons of interest.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Summer’s father Don Wells was arrested in October 2020 during a domestic incident involving Summer’s mother Candus Bly. The day after Wells was arrested on two weapons charges and one count of domestic abuse, Bly filed for an order of protection, saying that she was afraid for her and her children’s safety. A week later, she withdrew the filing, and authorities eventually dropped the domestic abuse charge against Wells.
Fox News obtained court records showing that Don Wells has been convicted of “multiple violent felonies” in Texas, Utah, and Arkansas. The news station also reports that Candus Bly has a criminal record in Wisconsin. In 2003, she pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and domestic abuse. It is unclear from the report or the records who the abuse victim was.
Investigators are continuing their search for Summer Wells, and have so far fielded hundreds of tips about the girl’s disappearance.
Anyone with information about Summer Wells’ disappearance or current whereabouts is urged to call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Read all of CrimeOnline’s covering of the search for Summer Wells here.
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