If you think you've spotted Carlie, her uncle, or the van, call 911 immediately.
Update on May 11 at noon
It's been a week since a 9-year-old Rogersville girl was taken from her school by her uncle, and despite hundreds of tips from around the country, there has no sign of her.
The TBI issued an Amber Alert for Carlie Marie Trent last Thursday. She was picked up from school by Gary Simpson, her uncle by marriage who previously had custody of her.
Before Simpson picked her up, he was spotted on surveillance video getting cash at bank, then buying camping supplies, clothing, and other items at the local WalMart.
After he picked up Carlie, the two went to an area Save-A-Lot store to buy groceries.
No one has seen them since.
The two are believed to be traveling in a white Dodge conversion van with Tennessee license plate 173GPS. Investigators think they could be camping in a remote area, but they do not have a specific geographic area to search. They are encouraging people to keep their eyes open, particularly in campgrounds and rural properties.
TBI spokesperson Josh DeVine said in a press conference Wednesday morning that they've received more than 1,200 tips since the public was alerted that Carlie was missing. Officers in 19 states are working now to verify sightings or information that has been called in.
DeVine also wanted to address what he called "disturbing rumors" on Wednesday.
He said there was speculation on social media that perhaps Simpson doesn't mean to hurt Carlie.
"We realize Gary Simpson is Carlie's uncle by marriage, but we have specific, credible information that Carlie's is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death," he said.
"An Amber Alert is reserved for the most serious cases. This is one of them," he continued.
Update on May 11 at 12:15 a.m.
Investigators determined two people photographed in Missouri were not missing Rogersville 9-year-old Carlie Trent and her non-custodial uncle, Gary Simpson.
On Thursday, the Cooper County Sheriff's Office issued an Amber Alert when they received a tip that Trent and Simpson were near Otterville, Mo.
Mid-Missouri NBC affiliate KOMU reported the Cooper County Sheriff's Office confirmed the two people in a photo taken in a canoe on the Lamie River are not 9-year-old Carlie and Simpson.
Cooper County investigators spoke with the people in the photograph and said they are residents of Stover, Mo.
As of 10:38 p.m. Tuesday, deputies said they will not cancel the Missouri Amber Alert on Carlie until all leads have been investigated.
Earlier, at 10:13 p.m. Tuesday, the sheriff's office said it had "begun to cancel" the Missouri Amber Alert, but people should "continue to be vigilant for Carlie and Simpson."
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Thursday they had received more than 600 tips from 11 different states, but had no confirmed leads or sightings of the Trent and Simpson.
Trent has been missing for one week.
Update on May 10 at 8 p.m.
Amid hundreds of tips flooding law enforcement offices across the country, two possible sightings of missing Rogersville girl Carlie Trent and her uncle, Gary Simpson made headlines Thursday.
The first, in Cooper County, Missouri, about two hours east of Kansas City. There, the sheriff's office issued an Amber Alert Thursday afternoon, after a possible sighting near Otterville, Missouri.
A photo appears to show two individuals that look similar to Trent and Simpson, in a canoe on the Lamie River.
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Law enforcement searched the area by land and air, according to Missouri NBC station KOMU, and located a van locals thought might be Simpson's. In a release, investigators said it was not the van as described in the original Tennessee Amber Alert.
Meanwhile in Idaho, an employee at a drive-thru Chinese restaurant called police after a van she said was similar to the description of Simpson's stopped at the restaurant, reported Boise NBC station KTVB.
Police in Mountain Home, Idaho reviewed video surveillance from local businesses, spoke with witnesses and submitted photos to TBI before making the determination that the van spotted at the Jade Palace wasn't Simpson's.
Police said the employee told investigators the van and two people inside matched the description given in the Amber Alert.
After investigating, police say there were close similarities between the vans, which made it difficult for detectives to validate.
KTVB contacted Idaho State Police, the agency that issues Amber Alerts in Idaho. A spokesperson told that station they have been in touch with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and so far there is not enough evidence to issue an alert in Idaho. TBI confirmed they had gotten more than 600 tips from 11 different states as of Tuesday afternoon, though they had not been able to verify any of the reported sightings.
Update on May 10 at 4:15 p.m.
An Amber Alert has been expanded to mid-Missouri following a possible sighting of the van driven by Gary Simpson.
The Cooper County Sheriff's Department said Simpson, along with missing Rogersville 9-year-old Carlie Trent, were possibly seen in Otterville, Missouri. That is about two hours east of Kansas City.
TBI said Tuesday afternoon they had not asked the Cooper County Sheriff's Department to issue the Amber Alert in that area.
TBI confirmed they had gotten more than 600 tips from 11 different states as of Tuesday afternoon.
The TBI issued an Amber Alert for Carlie on Thursday after her uncle Gary Simpson removed her from school on Wednesday.
The NBC affiliate in Columbia, Missouri reported a helicopter searched a large area looking for the vehicle, but did not appear to have located anything relating to Trent or Simpson as of Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Update on May 10 at 3:15 p.m.
Reports from across the country of possible sightings of missing Rogersville girl Carlie Trent have flooded the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, though so far, none of them have been verified, a spokesperson from TBI said Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking from Hawkins County, TBI spokesperson Josh DeVine said they have gotten more than 600 tips from 11 different states.
Carlie Trent is believed to be with her non-custodial uncle by marriage, Gary Simpson.
Earlier in the day, TBI released new photos and videos that showed what Simpson purchased before allegedly disappearing with Trent.
Many of the items appeared to be camping related.
“We fully believe that he intended to be out of public view for some time," said DeVine.
TBI released new video of Trent Tuesday afternoon from before her disappearance, playing with her father's cell phone.
When questioned if investigators believed Simpson could be armed, DeVine said he was not sure.
“We honestly don’t know with certainty that he’s not armed and dangerous but who’s to say?" said DeVine.
Update on May 10 at 11:15 a.m.
Authorities are releasing new photos and videos to help in the search for missing Hawkins County girl Carlie Trent.
TBI spokesperson Josh DeVine provided an update Tuesday morning on the agency’s active Amber Alert search for Carlie. He said they are holding out hope Tuesday will be the day they find Carlie.
The TBI issued an Amber Alert for Carlie on Thursday after her uncle Gary Simpson removed her from school on Wednesday.
During a news conference Tuesday morning, DeVine showed pictures of camping-related items purchased by Simpson at a Walmart before he took Carlie.
The items included a purple and pink blanket, a green shirt, black pants for himself, khaki pants for Carlie, girl’s underwear, a girl's nightgown, nail polish, lipstick, a bikini and a pink child’s camping chair.
On May 4, authorities believe Simpson purchased the items at Walmart, picked up Carlie from school and then went to the Save-A-Lot store.
On Tuesday, the TBI is released higher quality surveillance video of Simpson and Carlie at the Save-A-Lot store.
Mobile Viewers: Click here to watch the Save-A-Lot surveillance video
DeVine said authorities might be able to disclose what Simspon purchased at Save-A-Lot at some point Tuesday.
DeVine remained hopeful authorities would bring Carlie home safely.
“You have to be hopeful every day because, to be honest with you, this work can get discouraging,” DeVine said. “When our folks are just spinning their wheels, and continuing to pursue leads, hundreds and hundreds of leads, and nothing is panning out. That gets difficult, and it wears on investigators and wears on folks in law enforcement, but at the end of the day, this community is holding out hope. We are as well because that is the driving force.”
DeVine again addressed Simpson directly during Tuesday morning’s news conference.
“Gary, if you’re out there, we would encourage you to do the right thing. You have the capacity to turn this whole thing around for the sake of your family, and so we would encourage you, bring Carly home,” DeVine stressed.
The Save-A-Lot videos are the last known sighting of Simpson and Carlie.
DeVine said there have been no credible reports of anyone seeing the two since the abduction.
On Tuesday, DeVine said weather could factor into the search to find Simpson and Carlie.
"It's just hard to tell. The weather will certainly have an impact on this," DeVine said. "We're not, for example, going to be able to do any kind of air searching if the storms come in. We haven't done a whole lot of that at this point."
DeVine said severe weather could be a positive in the search for the two.
"The storm may prove to be something that forces them out of their isolated area if it becomes severe enough," DeVine said.
The TBI believes Trent and Simpson could be in a white Dodge conversion van with the Tennessee license plate 173GPS.
DeVine asked anyone who sees the Carlie, Simpson or the van to call 911. Anyone with tips in the case is asked to call the TBI at 1(800)TBI-FIND.
“It only takes one tip. It only takes one person seeing something that does not sit right in their stomach, and they pick up the phone and call and it makes all the difference,” DeVine said Tuesday morning. “We believe that could happen today.”
UPDATE 5:30 a.m. MAY 10:
(ROGERSVILLE) - Law enforcement authorities continued to search Tuesday morning for a missing Rogersville girl.
On Monday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shifting resources to Rogersville to help in the widening search for 9-year-old Carlie Trent, the subject of an Amber Alert.
The TBI issued an Amber Alert on Thursday for Trent after her uncle Gary Simpson removed her from school on Wednesday.
Except for some store footage showing either Simpson or Simpson and the girl from last week, there's been no sign of the pair, according to the TBI.
Addressing Gary Simpson late Monday night in a news conference, TBI spokesperson Josh DeVine asked him to bring Carlie home.
"There is nothing that has happened that can't be corrected," he said. "The community wants you to do the right thing, Gary, and bring her home."
Authorities said Simpson went to Carlie's school Wednesday and lied to school officials before taking her. Simpson previously had legal custody of Carlie, but that has since transferred back to her biological father.
DeVine said Rogersville is the epicenter of the search because Carlie and Simpson are both from the area. There have been no confirmed sightings of either of them since Wednesday evening, according to TBI, though officials said Monday night they have gotten more than 500 tips from around the country.
TBI is holding out hope for Carlie's safe return, and released new home video of her from a previous recording, talking about her sister's flu shot.
"There is a family, there is a community, there is a state that wants this child home and there's an agency the tbi that wants this child home as well. You better believe we're going to do everything in our capacity to see this girl is safely recovered. It is that important to us," DeVine said.
TBI escalated the search for Trent and Simpson from an Endangered Child Alert to an Amber Alert on Thursday morning after kidnapping warrants were issued and they were seen buying items used for camping.
DeVine said there were additional factors he could not disclose Monday in the decision for TBI to escalate the search.
Monday night, he said TBI still believed they were in an isolated area, camping or in a cabin, or hiding out in Simpson's van.
The Amber Alert remains in effect for East and Middle Tennessee. DeVine said there are no plans currently to expand the Amber Alert.
He explained there is no such thing as a "national Amber Alert." States only issue alerts when there is evidence a child and their abductor may be in the area.
As the search continues for Carlie, her classmates and teachers are planning to wear purple on Tuesday to support Carlie.
"Here it is, three weeks of school left and you should be getting this jolly end of the year spirit and this just is... You're worried about a child that's missing. It's a schools worst nightmare, it's a parents worst nightmare. We are all just devastated," Hawkins Elementary School Principal Barry Bellamy said.
Authorities said Simpson does not have a criminal history.
DeVine said Amber Alerts have a 97-98 percent success rate in Tennessee. DeVine said it was "incredible" to see multiple people offer monetary rewards for Trent's safe return to her family.
Trent's pediatrician Dr. Chris Calendine offered $10,000, the U.S. Marshals Service offered $5,000 and a Nashville musician offered an undisclosed amount for anyone to come forward that leads to Trent's safe return.
There was a heavy law enforcement presence in Hawkins County on Sunday night. Trent's family was there, but DeVine said U.S. Marshal Service put their command post up, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol had a helicopter patrolling the area too.
DeVine said Monday the TBI will also put their command post up too.
AMBER ALERT: If you see something, say something. Help us find #CarlieTrent. Call 1-800-TBI-FIND with tips! pic.twitter.com/YVF4gjFjJ9
— TBI (@TBInvestigation) May 8, 2016
"It's a bit like a needle in a haystack," DeVine said of the search to find Trent and Simpson.
DeVine said authorities are calling and searching nearby campgrounds and remote areas after surveillance footage showed Simpson buying camping gear at Walmart. Even without new information on their whereabouts, DeVine believes Trent and Simpson will turn up soon.
"He was an unemployed individual so he doesn’t have limitless financial resources. Whether that means he pops up tonight, Tuesday, Thursday, we just don’t know," DeVine said over the weekend. "We don’t want it to go that long. We want her home tonight."
Investigators continue to urge people through the state to share any information they think might be important to the case, big or small.
"Even if it seems insignificant to you, in the total picture of what we’re trying to piece together here at TBI, it might be the one thing that helps link this evidence with this evidence and helps us piece together the entire story," DeVine said.
Anyone who knows of Trent or Simpson's whereabouts is asked to call the TBI at 1(800)TBI-FIND.
Previous:
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released surveillance video of the missing 9-year-old girl, Carlie Trent, and her uncle, Gary Simpson, in a Rogersville grocery store.
Officials said the video was captured shortly after Simpson picked up the girl from her school.
Investigators also said her pediatrician, Dr. Chris Calendine, is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the safe recovery of the child.
Calendine previously planned to use the money to save for a boat, but indicated he would rather see the money used to further the effort to bring Carlie home.
Anyone with information should call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Original story:
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is searching remote areas for a missing 9-year-old Rogersville girl.
TBI issued an Amber Alert for Carlie Marie Trent on Thursday morning, and authorities were still searching for her as of 11 p.m. Friday.
Trent is believed to be with her uncle, Gary Simpson, who pulled her from class Wednesday under false pretenses. Simpson does not have custody of Trent, though he did in the past.
The TBI has fielded several dozen tips - but that's not nearly as many as they usually get when a child goes missing, spokesman Josh DeVine said during a press conference Friday afternoon.
"We believe that they're (Carlie and Simpson) not necessarily in public view," the spokesman said.
The agency activated the Amber Alert for the middle and eastern parts of the state, thinking those are the most relevant to her disappearance, DeVine said.
The TBI believes Trent and Simpson could be in a white Dodge van with the Tennessee license plate 173GPS.
"We really believe that it is going to a good-natured citizen that is going to crack this thing wide open," DeVine said.
The TBI released new video footage on Friday of Trent's uncle Gary Simpson at the Walmart in Rogersville. They said on that shopping trip, Simpson bought items that could indicate he was planning to camp.
The video is the last known sighting of Simpson, captured shortly before he picked Trent up at school. There have been no credible reports of anyone seeing the two since the abduction.
TBI officials said they believe the two "may not be in public view and may be located in a campground, state park, or other isolated area."
"We need the public to remain vigilant," said Josh DeVine, TBI spokesperson, particularly in campgrounds, state parks, or rural areas.
TBI is asking all campground owners and visitors to watch for anything suspicious.
At a press conference Friday afternoon, DeVine provided some further clarification on custody questions.
At one point, Simpson had custody of Carlie, but the court had recently transferred custody back to Carlie's biological father.
It doesn't appear that the father informed the school about the change in Carlie's custody.
Steve Starnes, Director of Schools for Hawkins County, said that Simpson was designated in writing as having the authority to pick up Carlie from school, and that he'd picked here up before.
"The school secretary checked the child's emergency card and verified that Mr. Simpson had permission to sign the child out from school," said Starnes in a statement. "Additionally, documentation on file at the school listed Mr. Simpson as a legal guardian."
"He regularly picked her up from school throughout the school year," her father James Trent told 10News. "He helped me with all the things I couldn't get to -- appointments, and things like that."
Trent is now piecing together the puzzle left by a man he thought he knew.
"I know he's had to tell her something to keep her in that van with him and stop her from jumping out. But I know she's always trusted him, so I'm sure she's totally confused," he said.
Despite the lack of leads, he is still optimistic his daughter will be found. He has a message for her:
"Whatever it is he's telling you, Carlie, it's definitely not true. Get away from him. Run, scream. Whatever you've got to do. We've got people looking for you everywhere, and we'll never give up looking for you."
Simpson's wife of 34 years, Linda Simpson echoed Trent's message to Carlie.
"I want to tell her please, please don't believe Gary. He's telling you lies and if you can get away, get away and ask for help," she said. "And we miss you and we love you and everyone is trying to find you, but please do not believe Gary, he's lying."
She said there were no warning signs of what's to come before the two disappeared.
"I didn't expect my husband to do what he's done," she told our Tri-Cities affiliate on Friday. "No signs, no warnings, or I'd have stopped it if I could."
Anyone with information on Trent's whereabouts is asked to call the TBI at 1(800)TBI-FIND. They'd also like to hear from anyone who had any interaction with the two before the abduction, who may be able to shed light on Simpson's motives for taking Carlie.
Simpson does not have a criminal record.
TBI said while the Amber Alert has not been extended beyond East and Middle Tennessee, investigators have been in contact with authorities in other states.
Simpson is Carlie's uncle by marriage.
Trent is 4’8” and has blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black and gray tank top with blue jeans, according to a TBI release.
Simpson is 57, and has balding brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown cap, dark colored shirt and jeans.
According to the TBI, Simpson was last seen driving a white 2002 Dodge Conversion Van with Tennessee registration 173GPS. The van has a dark stripe down the middle with light gold running boards and chipping paint on the hood.
No word on where they might be.
Officials ask anyone that has seen the child, subject or van to call Rogersville Police Department at 423-272-7555 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.