★ AMBER ALERT ★

TBI Newsroom

A Middle and East Tennessee AMBER Alert, issued by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on behalf of the Rogersville Police Department, remains in effect for 9-year-old Carlie Marie Trent. On Wednesday afternoon, May 4th, her uncle by marriage, Gary Simpson, removed Carlie from school under false pretenses. He currently has no custodial rights to Carlie.

Since issuing the original Endangered Child Alert Wednesday, and upgrading the alert to an AMBER Alert on Thursday, TBI Agents and Intelligence Analysts have worked to coordinate and verify more than 500 tips. At this time, however, there have been no credible sightings of Carlie Trent, Gary Simpson, or the van in which investigators believe the two may be traveling. Though their whereabouts are currently unknown, investigative efforts suggest they may be out of public view and in an isolated area, such as a campground or park.

Today, the TBI shifted several resources to Upper East Tennessee, to include a Command Post staffed by Intelligence Analysts, which will be located in Hawkins County to continue their work to investigate tips, leads, and coordinate the flow of information with local, state, and federal partners. On Sunday, the United States Marshal’s Service dispatched a similar command post to Hawkins County in an effort to do the same. Air searches by helicopter, performed by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, began late Sunday and will be ongoing on an as needed basis as part of the overall search effort.

The United States Marshal’s Service has increased its initial reward of $2,5000 for information leading to the arrest of Gary Simpson and the recovery of Carlie Trent to $5,000. Additionally, Dr. Chris Calendine, Carlie’s pediatrician, has indicated to TBI he will offer $10,000 in reward money for information leading to Carlie’s safe recovery.

Carlie is 4’8″ tall, weighs 75 lbs with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black and grey tank top and blue jeans. Simpson is a 57-year-old white male, 5’10” tall, weighing 157 lbs. 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 173-GPS. 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.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will continue any and all efforts to locate these individuals as quickly as possible, and as part of that effort, continue to reach out to local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities across the region to disseminate the information and pictures as widely as possible.

Surveillance video of Gary Simpson and Carlie Trent, released by the TBI in recent days, is available for view on the TBI’s YouTube channel.

We continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and alert law enforcement if they see the child, the suspect, or the van involved in this incident. If anyone has information that may prove helpful, they may contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Additional images of the suspect vehicle have also been provided by TBI.

Amber Alert extended to MO for missing 9-year-old Tennessee girl who was signed out of school by uncle

"An Amber Alert originally issued for Carlie Trent in Tennessee on Thursday was extended into Missouri on Tuesday. Investigators say she and suspect Gary Simpson, 57, may have been spotted in Otterville, Mo., on Monday. Otterville is just east of Sedalia, and about 110 miles from Kansas City."

Saw an identical van this morning(Rocky Mount, VA) at a local truck stop and although it had NY plates i rolled in there like I was going to kill everyone in room. It was a group of old guys traveling from New York to Florida. They even commended me on my vigilance and set forth hoping they wont be pulled over. The van was identical. I mean to the T identical.

They even commended me on my vigilance...

I commend you on your vigilance as well!

If you see something, say something!

Abducted girl rescued by 2 men

"Two men found Carlie Trent and her uncle, Gary Simpson, Thursday afternoon and held Simpson at gunpoint until authorities arrived, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation."