Full Breakdown
Don Wells Arrested on Domestic Assault Charge Amid Ongoing Search for Daughter Summer
By Drooid · · How we work
Arrest Details
On October 12, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a property on Ben Hill Road in Hawkins County, Tennessee. They found Don Wells, father of missing child Summer Wells, outside the home with scratches on his chest and abdomen. Inside, his wife Candus Bly Wells had visible injuries and told deputies that her husband had assaulted her. The Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office arrested Don Wells and charged him with domestic assault. He is scheduled to appear in court on October 14 at 8 a.m.
Background of Summer Wells Disappearance
Summer Moon-Utah Wells vanished from the family home in the Beech Creek community near Rogersville on June 15, 2021, when she was five years old. The case quickly attracted state and federal involvement, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the FBI, and local law-enforcement agencies. Despite thousands of tips and extensive searches of the surrounding wooded and mountainous terrain, investigators have not determined what happened to her. An AMBER Alert remains active, and the investigation continues.
Official Statements & Responses
TBI Director David Rausch emphasized the agency’s ongoing focus:
“From the very beginning, our focus has been on Summer and finding out what happened to her. We never imagined her case would remain unsolved five years later,” — David Rausch, TBI director
The TBI also thanked the public for continued support, noting that “Your kindness and prayers mean a lot.”
“Your kindness and prayers mean a lot.” — The TBI
Both statements underscore that, while Don Wells faces a new criminal charge, the search for Summer remains a separate, unresolved investigation.
What Happens Next
Don Wells will face legal proceedings for the domestic assault charge, with his next court appearance set for October 14. Meanwhile, the TBI, FBI, and Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office continue to evaluate credible leads in Summer’s disappearance. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or email TipsToTBI@tn.gov.
