Carlie Trent
Carlie Trent
Carlie Trent is a 9 year old resident from Rogersville, Tennessee.
Disappearance
On Wednesday May 4, 2016, Carlie Trent was signed out of her school under false pretenses by her uncle-by-marriage, Gary Simpson. Gary Simpson told school officials that her father had been in a bad accident, and he needed to take her out of school to see him. Simpson and his wife, Carlie's parental aunt, had custody of Carlie and her younger sister until recently, when custody of the two was awarded back to their father. The school had not been made aware of the custodial changes.
Prior to abducting his niece, Simpson bought several items at a local Walmart, including a child's camping chair, a girls' bikini, a girls' nightie, a pack of girls' underwear, lipstick, and nail polish.
The two were seen on surveillance video buying non-perishable items at a grocery store soon after she was taken from school.
She was not in any kind of distress.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation upgraded the Endangered Child Alert in place for Carlie to an Amber Alert the next day.
They believed her to be "in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death".
Law enforcement came to believe they were staying at a campground or other similarly remote, isolated area.
The TBI received tips and sightings from all over the state of Tennessee, and even ones from Missouri and Idaho, respectively.
All these sightings proved to be false.
When Carlie had been missing for a week, Gary Simpson was placed on the TBI's Most Wanted List.
Rescue
On Thursday May 12, 2016 Carlie Trent and Gary Simpson were found in a remote location about 20 miles from Rogersville, TN by two citizens.
One citizen held Simpson at gunpoint while the other dialed 911.
Carlie was taken to the hospital, and Simpson was captured and placed in custody.