'Brainwashed' teen allegedly kidnapped by teacher and taken on 4000km trip, found safe

A US teen who was allegedly kidnapped by her teacher is back home with her family after she was found safe.

15-year-old Tennessee student, Elizabeth Thomas, was allegedly taken across the country to California by her alleged abductor, former teacher Tad Cummins.

Cummins had been suspended from teaching before leaving with the 15-year-old.

Miss Thomas' family lawyer said the teen had "suffered severe emotional trauma " and "her process of recovery is only just beginning".

Lawyer Jason Whatley said she was safe with friends and family.

The pair were found at a remote northern California property after caretaker Griffin Barry led police to them.

Mr Barry said he became suspicious of the pair when he initially thought they were in distress.

He said they told him their names were "John and Joanna" and they needed money for food, gas and a place to stay, ABC News reported on Friday.

But Mr Barry, 29, said he became suspicious when the older man tried to keep Miss Thomas away.

"The girl wasn't really looking at me or anything and he was always dominating the conversation. That kind of clues people in," Mr Barry alleged.

After seeing a photo of Cummins in an Amber Alert, he made the connection and called authorities.

His tip led police to Cummins, who had taken the student on a 4,000 kilometre cross-country journey.

Cummins was arrested after he came out of the cabin with the teen walking behind him, the sheriff's office said and was co-operative with law enforcement.

Police said the 15-year-old was at times "laughing, crying and acting stoic" after police found her at the remote cabin.

"These two had a relationship to the extent where she didn't exhibit any anger toward him. I didn't observe any emotional distress," he said.

"She didn't act like a rescued person would act," he said.

Miss Thomas appeared fine physically and there were no signs of trauma according to police.

The cabin had a single sleeping pad and clothing along with the two loaded guns; a 9mm and a .380 compact pistol.

It's said the two had previously been at a commune called Black Bear Ranch, but "didn't get along" with residents and ended up leaving.

Cummins faces federal and state charges.

Cummins was fired about a month after being suspended, a day after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert about Miss Thomas.

After taking out a loan for $4,500, the records say, the teacher took the money and two handguns and wrote a note to his wife saying he needed to go to Virginia Beach or the D.C. area to clear his head, The Associated Press reported.

But instead of going to the beach, police say he picked up the student in Columbia, Tennessee, in his wife's silver Nissan Rogue on the morning of March 13, triggering a six-week police manhunt.

"It is believed based on the investigation to date, as set forth herein, that Cummins, age 50, and the victim, age 15, are involved in a sexual relationship and travelled in interstate commerce to continue their relationship and to engage in unlawful sexual activity," the criminal complaint against Cummins alleges.

Cummins, the federal complaint says, is charged with taking a minor across state lines to have sex.

Miss Thomas' father Anthony told media he believes his daughter was brainwashed.

Cummins also faces state charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor. If convicted of the federal charge, he faces at least 10 years in prison, acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith said.

Before disappearing, Cummins was investigated by the school system when another student reported seeing the then-married teacher allegedly kiss a girl at the Culleoka Unit School.