Donald Wells, the father of missing Tennessee child Summer Wells, was arrested in Hawkins County on a domestic assault charge, according to jail records. Wells was booked at 4:15 a.m. Tuesday and was scheduled for arraignment at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The arrest is unrelated to Summer’s disappearance, which remains unsolved more than five years after she vanished from her family’s rural Rogersville property.

Authorities have not immediately released additional details about the domestic assault allegation. No public suspect has been identified in Summer’s disappearance, and investigators continue to seek information about the child’s whereabouts and a potential witness connected to a red pickup truck seen in the area.

Details of the Hawkins County arrest

Donald Wells, 61, was booked into the Hawkins County Jail at 4:15 a.m. Tuesday on a domestic assault charge. Jail records indicated that he was scheduled to appear for arraignment at 9 a.m. Wednesday. At the time of the report, officials had not provided further information about the alleged incident, including the location, circumstances, or any reported injuries.

The new case concerns an alleged domestic incident and is separate from the investigation into Summer’s disappearance. A spokesperson for the family and the sheriff’s office did not immediately provide comment. The available records did not indicate the outcome of the scheduled arraignment.

Earlier charges and legal history

Donald Wells has previously faced arrests involving domestic assault, driving under the influence, and firearms offenses, according to the reported court and jail records. Those cases were not identified as being connected to Summer’s disappearance.

In 2020, a civil order of protection was also served on behalf of his wife, Candus Bly. The existence of prior charges does not establish responsibility for Summer’s disappearance, and investigators have not publicly announced that Wells or any other family member is a suspect in the missing-child case.

What is known about Summer’s disappearance

Summer Moon-Utah Wells was 5 when she disappeared on June 15, 2021, from her family’s home on Ben Hill Road in rural Rogersville, Tennessee. Her mother, Candus Bly, told investigators that she last saw Summer at the home after the child came inside from planting flowers with her grandmother.

Summer was approximately 3 feet tall and weighed about 40 pounds when she vanished. She had blonde hair and was last reported wearing gray pants and a pink shirt. She may have been barefoot. An age-progressed image has been released showing how she might have appeared at age 9. She would now be 10.

Investigation and family circumstances

Donald Wells and Candus Bly have maintained that someone entered their 11-acre property, lured Summer outside, and took her. Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect. They have sought information about the driver of a red pickup truck with full-sized ladder racks and white buckets in the truck bed, who may have been a potential witness.

After Summer disappeared, the couple’s other children were removed from the home. Information published by the family stated that the parents were cleared in a Department of Child Services investigation but had not regained custody of their sons. Rose Marie Bly, Candus Bly’s sister, was reported missing from Wisconsin in 2009, and that case also remains unsolved.

How the public can provide information

Anyone with information about Summer’s whereabouts or circumstances surrounding her disappearance can contact the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office at 423-272-7121 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Tips can also be emailed to TipsToTBI@tn.gov.

Investigators are asking the public to share potentially relevant observations rather than draw conclusions from unverified claims. Information about vehicles, people, or activity near the Ben Hill Road property on June 15, 2021, may assist the continuing search.

Summary

The arrest of Donald Wells adds another domestic assault case to his legal history but does not resolve the disappearance of his daughter, Summer Wells. Summer’s location remains unknown, and authorities continue to rely on public information as the investigation proceeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Donald Wells arrested?

He was booked into the Hawkins County Jail on a domestic assault charge. The allegation is unrelated to his daughter’s disappearance.

When did Summer Wells disappear?

Summer disappeared on June 15, 2021, from her family’s home on Ben Hill Road in Rogersville, Tennessee.

Has a suspect been identified?

No suspect has been publicly identified. Investigators have sought information about a red pickup truck and its driver as part of the ongoing inquiry.

How can people submit tips?

Tips can be provided to the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office at 423-272-7121, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND, or by email at TipsToTBI@tn.gov.

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