Nine-year-old Carlie Marie Trent remained missing a week after her uncle by marriage, Gary Simpson, allegedly took her from her elementary school in Rogersville, Tennessee, on May 4. Authorities said Simpson, 57, falsely told school staff that Carlie’s father had been in a car accident and that he had been sent to pick her up. An Amber Alert remained active in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said it had specific, credible information that Carlie was in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death, though it did not disclose the details. TBI spokesperson Josh DeVine rejected social media speculation that Simpson was protecting the girl, saying the incident was a crime. Investigators were reviewing more than 1,200 leads and possible sightings across numerous states, but had not confirmed a credible sighting. A Missouri Amber Alert issued after a possible sighting near Otterville was later canceled.

Before taking Carlie from school, Simpson purchased items at a Walmart that included a blanket, clothing, girls’ underwear, a bikini, lipstick, nail polish and a child-sized folding chair. Afterward, he bought nonperishable food and toiletries at a grocery store. Authorities believed the purchases suggested he intended to remain out of sight, possibly in an isolated area or campground. They contacted park officials and campgrounds in several states and asked rural property owners to check for anything suspicious.

Simpson and his wife had previously had custody of Carlie and her younger sister, but Carlie’s father, James Trent, had custody when she disappeared. Her mother, Shannon Trent, said Simpson had long been a trusted family member, although she had always had a bad feeling about him. Both parents appealed for Carlie’s return.

Two Knoxville banking executives, Matt Daniels and Tim Williams, offered $10,000 for information leading to her return, joining a separate $10,000 reward from Carlie’s pediatrician. The U.S. Marshals Service offered $5,000 for information leading to her recovery and Simpson’s capture.

The pair were last seen traveling in a white 2002 Dodge conversion van with Tennessee license plate **173GPS**. Carlie was described as 4 feet 8 inches tall and 75 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. Authorities asked anyone with information to call **1-800-TBI-FIND** or Rogersville police at **423-272-7555**; anyone who spots the van or has immediate location information should call **911**.