As the search for missing child Summer Wells reaches its tragic two-year milestone, her heartbroken dad has unveiled a fresh theory over her mysterious and chilling disappearance.
The terrifying mystery began on June 15, 2021, when Summer, who would now seven, was last seen planting flowers alongside her grandmother at their home.
Two years later, her father Don Wells and his wife still have no clue where Summer could have gone - but have pointed to alleged drug activity that took place in the area.
They also believe it could have been a "professional" at work who could have been spying on the family for some time.
He told WVLT: "We try to bounce things off of each other all the time. We might have talks about some of the drug activity that was going on at the time and was going on right after her disappearance for quite a while.
"What we think, that this is some kind of a professional situation that took her and had probably been watching her for a while.
“She’s obviously not in school anywhere, or there’s no record of her anywhere. So, she’s either you know, in someone’s basement, deceased, or we just don’t know - or in another country.
“It’s fairly easy to get anything out of the country in my opinion. It’s not easy to get in the country, but it is easy to get out.”
The family maintain that an abductor snuck into the house, in Rogersville, Tennessee, and stole the then five-year-old girl, but police say they've uncovered no sign that holds up this theory.
The media storm surged after Don was arrested for a DUI in October and served several months in prison - and then he and his wife Candus lost custody of their sons amid the legal woes.
Now, the couple lives in Arkansas where Don is working in construction. They left east Tennessee due to trouble holding down jobs.
In 2020, Don was arrested on charges of domestic assault, prompting Candus to seek an order of protection against him. However, she later requested the dismissal of the order, and the charges were dropped two months before the disappearance of Summer.
As part of the investigation into Summer's vanishing, both parents were required to undergo a lie-detector test, which they passed. They have never been identified as suspects.
A neighbor, JodiSue Brown, recalled hearing a scream approximately an hour before Summer went missing and expressed regret for not giving it more attention.
Local officials have maintained that they do not suspect foul play but are keeping all possibilities open.
Recently, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children created an age progression image illustrating what Summer might look like after two years of absence.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is collaborating with various agencies in the ongoing search for the girl and assures the public that their efforts have never ceased.
Over 200 interviews have been conducted since her disappearance, and the Bureau urges individuals to refrain from spreading misinformation about the search online.
On the two-year anniversary of Summer's disappearance, the family released a heartbreaking video offering prayers and tributes.
"She has become a state, national, and global child representing all missing children," the caption to the video reads.
"Today marks two years that she has been missing. Please continue to pray that she be found safe, soon."
