An AMBER Alert has been issued for a 9-year-old girl from Rogersville, Tennessee, and officials with the U.S. Marshals Service have offered at $2,500 reward in the case.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued the alert on behalf of the Rogersville Police Department for 9-year-old Carlie Trent.
TBI officials said Carlie’s uncle by marriage, Gary Simpson, removed her from school Wednesday under false pretenses. Those with the TBI said Simpson has no custodial rights to Carlie.
Saturday, Dr. Chris Calendine, Carlie’s pediatrician, announced he would be offering a $10,000 reward in addition to the $2,500 offered by the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Dr. Calendine said the reward was for information leading to Carlie’s safe recovery. He had previously planned to use the money to save for a boat, but he wanted to see it used to further the effort to bring Carlie home.
Also on Saturday, those with the TBI released surveillance video from a Rogersville grocery story. They said the video was captured shortly after Simpson picked Carlie up from her school.
After an endangered child alert was issued, Thursday morning authorities said an AMBER alert was active for both Middle and East Tennessee.
The missing child's mother, Shannon Trent, spoke to CBS affiliate WJHL, saying Simpson lied to the school and they aren't sure why he took the girl.
"Bring her home, Gary, safely," Trent said. "Mommy and Daddy and Aunt Linda and everybody, we love her so much."
The U.S. Marshals offered the $2,500 reward Friday afternoon for the safe return of Carlie and information leading to Simpson's arrest.
New photos and video were released by the TBI Thursday showing Simpson at Walmart in Rogersville Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the TBI said Simpson appeared to be buying camping supplies, and as a result, the two may be at a campground or somewhere isolated.
NEW PICTURES: #AmberAlert suspect Gary Simpson at Walmart in Rogersville yesterday PM. Spot him? 1-800-TBI-FIND! pic.twitter.com/yyAxMmhVfk
— TBI (@TBInvestigation) May 5, 2016
Carlie is 4'8" tall, weighs 75lbs with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black and gray tank top shirt with blue jeans.
Simpson is 57 years old, 5'10" tall, weighing 157lbs. He is balding and has brown hair and eyes.
He was last seen wearing a brown cap, a dark colored shirt and jeans. He was last seen driving a white 2002 Dodge Conversion Van with TN registration 173GPS.
The van has a dark stripe down the middle with light gold running boards and paint is chipping off of the hood.
Warrants have been issued for Simpson for kidnapping.
Officials asked anyone who may have seen the child, her uncle, or the vehicle to call the Rogersville Police Department at 423-272-7555 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
