Summer Wells went missing from her Tennessee family home three years ago.
But the searches for her are not stopping.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation marked the anniversary of Summer's missing from Hawkins County by releasing a video that outlines the latest in the search.
"When I see the picture of Summer Wells, I see my daughter," said Josh Melton, criminal investigation division assistant director. "If my daughter was missing, I'd hope that somebody was out looking for her."
Summer's family reported the then-5-year-old missing around 6:30 p.m. on June 15, 2021. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt and gray shorts. She may have been barefoot.
She had been outside with her mother and grandmother planting flowers, according to her father Donald Wells. Summer went back inside to play with her toys. The basement door was left open.
When Wells checked the basement for her, she was gone.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Endangered Child Alert for Summer the same day. The following day an Amber Alert was issued.
A few days later, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Summer had been abducted.
Now, three years later, there are still no answers.
"We don't have the evidence in this case to know for sure whether or not Summer was abducted or whether or not she walked away from her home and became lost," Melton said. "It's very important for us to not focus all of our efforts on just one of those two."
According to the bureau's Facebook post, the investigation has worked on 6,500 leads and tips as well as interviewed and re-interviewed anyone with potential information.
Melton said in the two-minute video that many people have speculated on what could have happened in this case. He said investigators cannot speculate and "focus their efforts in one direction" or else the bureau would be "making a huge mistake."
"We have to make sure that we're being completely comprehensive as we investigate," Melton said.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is continuing to focus on ground search efforts as well as interviews with people who may have seen vehicles in the area, Melton said.
The bureau has also brought in other experts from across Tennessee.
"All stones are being turned over," Melton said. "We have some of our most talented agents assigned to this case."
Melton called children the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's "top priority."
"We're not going to allow this case to sit on a shelf," Melton said. "We are committed to bringing Summer home. We will keep working on this case until she is home."
Anyone who may have credible information on Summer's whereabouts should call Call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Newsweek reached out to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for additional comment but did not hear back immediately.
Other cases
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is also currently working on a case about 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers, who also remains missing.
Sebastian disappeared from his Tennessee home in February.
Chris Proudfoot, Rogers' stepfather, was working out of town at the time, and his mother, Katie Proudfoot, said her son wasn't in his room when she went to wake him for school on Feb. 26.
There were no signs of a break-in, suggesting the teen may have left on his own accord.
Seth Rogers, Sebastian's father, believes foul play was involved.
Rogers is described as having "a medical condition that may impair his ability to return safely without assistance."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
");jQuery(this).remove()}) jQuery('.start-slider').owlCarousel({loop:!1,margin:10,nav:!0,items:1}).on('changed.owl.carousel',function(event){var currentItem=event.item.index;var totalItems=event.item.count;if(currentItem===0){jQuery('.owl-prev').addClass('disabled')}else{jQuery('.owl-prev').removeClass('disabled')} if(currentItem===totalItems-1){jQuery('.owl-next').addClass('disabled')}else{jQuery('.owl-next').removeClass('disabled')}})}})})
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrK6enZtjsLC5jqyspqWVp3q4sculqmalmajAqrrGZpimmpWneqK4xKurZmlpZoFzgJc%3D