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, 2016. Authorities said Simpson, 57, signed her out under false pretenses, telling school staff that her father had been in a car accident. Simpson had previously shared custody of Carlie and her younger sister with his wife, but Carlie’s father had custody at the time of her disappearance.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said it had credible information that Carlie was in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death. Spokesman Josh DeVine rejected social media speculation that Simpson was protecting her, saying the disappearance was a crime, not an innocent camping trip. Tennessee’s Amber Alert remained active. Investigators were examining more than 1,200 leads and possible sightings across multiple states, but had received no credible sighting. A Missouri Amber Alert prompted by a possible sighting near Otterville was canceled.

Before taking Carlie from school, Simpson bought items at a Walmart that included girls’ clothing and underwear, a bikini, lipstick, nail polish, a blanket and a child’s camping chair. After picking her up, he bought nonperishable food at a grocery store. Authorities believed he may have intended to stay out of sight in a remote area or campground and contacted park and campground officials in several states. They also asked rural property owners to check their land for anything suspicious.

Carlie’s mother, Shannon Trent, said Simpson had long been a trusted family member, though she had had a bad feeling about him. She urged him to come forward and said the family would keep searching. Carlie’s father, James Trent, said he believed Simpson had developed an obsession with her.

Two Knoxville banking executives, Matt Daniels and Tim Williams, offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Carlie’s return. Her pediatrician, Dr. Chris Calendine, also offered $10,000, and the U.S. Marshals Service offered $5,000 for information leading to her recovery and Simpson’s capture.

The pair were last seen in a white 2002 Dodge conversion van with Tennessee registration **173GPS**. Carlie was described as 4 feet 8 inches tall and weighing about 75 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. Simpson was described as balding, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 157 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Authorities asked anyone with information to call **1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463)** or Rogersville police at **(423) 272-7555**; anyone who spots the van or knows the pair’s immediate location should call **911**.