Father of missing Summer Wells releases letter to ‘kidnappers’

ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - At midnight on Tuesday, Don Wells, the father of missing Hawkins County child Summer Wells, released a letter he wrote to the little girl and the people he described as her potential captors.

The letter was posted on the Find Summer Wells website.

In the letter, Don Wells stated that he is still certain that someone kidnapped his daughter. He also asked the “kidnappers” to return the girl to the authorities, however the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has repeatedly reported that there is no evidence to support the family’s claim of kidnapping. The letter further alleges that the family’s lives have been ruined, saying Candus Bly, Summer’s mother, is unable to find employment and Don Wells himself was fired from his job of 13 years.

Prior to the letter’s release, representatives of Don Wells posted to YouTube to announce the letter would be forthcoming. Don Wells and his team asked the letters be treated with the “greatest respect.” Any comments surrounding the letters are merely speculation, the post stated.

The letter comes from the Hawkins County Jail. Wells was arrested on Oct. 30 for driving under the influence, marking his first DUI. However, since the arrest violated previous probation, he is currently serving the remainder of his sentence. He is expected to be released in the coming months.

Summer went missing in July of 2021. Last month, to mark the one-year anniversary of her case, Don Wells released a statement from the jail, specifically addressing his daughter.

Those with credible information on her disappearance are urged to call 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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