U.S. Marshals have confirmed that missing Carlie Trent has been found safe, and a suspect has been taken into custody.
Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said they're "en route to investigate and verify report of sighting in Hawkins County" in the case of missing 9-year-old, Carlie Marie Trent.
This came after a report from Hawkins County said Carlie was found safe and a suspect was in custody.
Officials said Carlie was found 50 miles North of Rogersville along Gravely Valley Road.
Earlier Thursday, Gary Simpson, the man who allegedly kidnapped Carlie, was added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Top 10 Most Wanted list earlier Thursday.
TBI officials said Simpson removed her from school on May 4 under false pretenses. He previously had custody of Carlie, but her father was recently granted custody.
Simpson is wanted by the Rogersville Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for especially aggravated kidnapping. The TBI said Carlie is "in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death.”
Those with the TBI said they had received more than 1,700 tips in 19 states, but there had not yet been a confirmed sighting of Carlie or Simpson.
Agents have encouraged people in east Tennessee, along with the entire state, to check their properties. They think the child and her uncle could be camping.
Carlie's Father questioned Simpson's motives.
"He had access to her every day, every single day," James Trent told CBS affiliate WVLT. "That makes me think further he was obsessed with her. He wanted her, and wanted her all to himself."
Simpson has no criminal history, and TBI investigators said his motives for taking Carlie were unclear. He is currently unemployed and has limited resources.
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.
Officials asked anyone who may have seen the child, her uncle, to immediately call 911 in order to have the quickest response from law enforcement officials.
If you have any other information on the case, call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
