Elizabeth Thomas’ first interview with anyone in the media came spontaneously and without hesitation Saturday evening in Columbia.

I was sitting in a fast-food restaurant when she unexpectedly walked in with two kids she was babysitting.

Nearly 1,500 tips flooded into law enforcement after she allegedly was kidnapped by Tad Cummins, her former teacher at Culleoka Unit School on March 13. An Amber Alert went out for her more than six months ago.

Thomas was found April 20 in California after a cross-country manhunt for 51-year-old Cummins. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping, among other crimes, and was sent to prison, awaiting trial in January.

“Hi, Mary Catherine,” I said, referring to her real name instead of the informal Elizabeth. “I’m from the newspaper. I’m glad to see you’re looking well.

“I know you’re in your pajama bottoms now and a T-shirt, but would you mind if I took your picture? No one has seen you in six months. They’d be happy to see you smiling, knowing you’re back home.”

Thomas, 16, flashed a grin and responded, “Sure. This is what I wear most of the time, anyway. I’ve been thinking about calling you. I have a lot on my mind. There’s been a lot of rumors about me I’d like to clear up.”

I invited her to sit and asked if she would mind telling me what’s bothering her.

She told me she did not want to talk about Cummins’ case out of respect for her attorney, Columbia’s Jason Whatley.

“He’s reminded me about not saying anything about the criminal case to the media,” she said.

A juvenile court judge placed a gag order on parties involved in her case, including her lawyer and parents.

Thomas’ father, Anthony, kept the search for his daughter trending because of his accessibility to talk about the case. Thomas’ mother, Kimberly, was facing charges of child abuse while Elizabeth was missing.

“But I don’t mind telling you about myself,” she added.

Thomas told me she returned to Columbia permanently in July. She said she spent 78 days in therapy in Jackson after flying home to Tennessee with TBI agents April 21.

The rest of our conversation centered on her job, where she’s going to school and if she made a mistake by leaving town with Cummins.

Thomas gave permission to use her name in stories about her, even though newspapers rarely use juveniles’ identities if they’re involved in litigation.

We’ve decided to use it, when appropriate, considering her name and face were in the newspaper almost daily from March 15 to April 26. We ran the TBI Amber alert poster in print or online everyday until she was found.

It would be disingenuous to exclude the high school junior’s name now.

She and I talked for about 10 minutes on the record and another five off the record. Her answers were short and to the point:

Question: How do you feel about being back in Columbia? Are you happy and feeling well?

Answer: Yes. I’m pretty happy that I’m back with my brother.

Q: Where are you going to school?

A: I am home schooling, and my brother is tutoring me.

Q: What is your life like now? How would you describe your day-to-day activities?

A: I can’t really complain right now. I baby sit kids, and I work in Columbia. I am studying at home.

Q: What are your favorite subjects?

A: Economics and science.

Q: What are you hoping to do with that when you’re older?

A: I would like to be a medical examiner. That is the science part. Economics is just an easy class.

Q: You have two more years of school?

A: Yes, two years of high school, then lots of years in college.

Q: Where would you like to go to college?

A: I am thinking either MTSU or Vanderbilt. But, right now, it’s going to be MTSU.

Q: Your Amber Alert riveted Columbia when it was ongoing. Looking back, what would you like to say to people in your hometown who wanted to see you come home safely?

A: Happy to be back and that people are so accepting.

Q: You’re not living with your father and all of your siblings?

A: Not at the moment.

Q: Do you think issues with your father will work out?

A: It’s just safer to be back with my brother instead of in the middle of everything.

Q: Are you hoping to be emancipated and handle your own affairs?

A: Yes.

Q: How long have you been back in Columbia for good?

A: I came back and visited for a while. I came back permanently in July.

Q: At first you, you were in Jackson for several weeks?

A: Three months.

Q: Did that seem like a little too long? You were getting therapy?

A: Yes, it was way too long. I should not have been up there.

Q: Your sister told me you were going on “Dr. Phil.” Is that true?

A: There have been some rumors. Lots of stuff going around. It might happen. It might not happen. We’re all just joking about it right now.

Q: She was just messing around with me when she said that?

A: We’re just messing around with each other.

Q: You said there were some things you wanted to get off of your mind. What’s that about?

A: It’s only been recently that I wanted to talk — to anyone. There’s been some much speculation about me. There are people saying, “She’s not talking for this reason. She’s not talking for that reason.” It’s not that. It’s just the publicity is affecting people. Everyone just needs to calm down. I am a human being. I can answer things fairly. But people are asking things that are too personal. People are talking to me like they know me. They didn’t talk to me before. They didn’t try to know me before. They have only liked me since I came back.

Q: You’ve found out who your true friends are in the last six months?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you regret having left town?

A: I don’t regret it, nor do I say it was the right thing to do. It was an experience I’ll have to live with the rest of my life. It’s good and bad. It’s there. No matter what we do, we’ll have to deal with it.

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James Bennett is editor of The Daily Herald. His column is based on exclusive reporting, old-school storytelling and original commentary on whatever catches his fancy or yours. He was a 2017 Tennessee Press Association first-place award winner for editorial writing and public service. Contact him at jbennett@c-dh.net.