Summer Wells’ father breaks silence after jail release with update on daughter’s search amid fears of ‘worst-case scenario’

THE father of a girl who mysteriously disappeared from her home in 2021 has broken his silence months after his release from prison.

Don Wells completed his sentence Oct. 30 on a DUI arrest and fears the worst ahead of daughter Summer’s seventh birthday this weekend.

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“We have to prepare for a worst-case scenario,” he told WJHL.

“You know, we could always hope for a good scenario.”

Summers Amber Alert remains active 19 months after her disappearance, although there is no sign of the girl.

She disappeared from her Tennessee home on June 15, 2021, sparking a massive search in the small Hawkins County community.

While the court of public opinion was against the family, they alleged that a kidnapper broke into the home and stole the poor girl.

Summer would have been seven that weekend.

Wells heavily criticized the Department of Children’s Services for handling the case and said regaining custody of his children had been a major issue.

“We really want our boys back home,” he said.

“If today were summer, we wouldn’t be able to see her or talk to her.

“And we can’t talk to our boys.”

Summer’s three brothers were removed from the family home six weeks after her disappearance.

In a podcast in 2021, he admitted he had slipped into dangerous behaviors while online sleuths hit him with accusations about her disappearance.

“Like an idiot, I believe it and freaked out, started drinking and everything,” he previously said.

“And that’s why they took our children with them.”

In his most recent interview, he confirmed that his boys kept in touch with his wife while he was on duty.

After his release, however, he said: “Suddenly it wasn’t me anymore, we weren’t allowed to contact them at all.”

He criticized the government agency for not helping him and his wife regain custody of their children.

“[DCS is] does nothing to help us,” he told the local outlet.

“In fact, they make us jump through all kinds of hoops, which is almost impossible to jump through and have a job and do all those things, and make it really, really hard for us.”

The grieving father said he no longer works for his former employer and is working out of state.

“I don’t know if exactly fired or whatever the term would be, but they don’t want the drama from YouTubers out there,” he said, pointing to various videos he’s posted to raise awareness of Summer’s disappearance .

“They try to build houses. They’re trying to sell houses. And of course they don’t want that kind of drama on the construction sites. I really can’t blame them.”

He also spoke about his wife Candus’ deteriorating health, which the family reported on their website FindSummerWells.com.

“Candus has been to the ER four times for heart problems,” he told the outlet.

“And we’re hopefully planning a major operation to fix the problem with her heart.

“She’s better, I think. But all the stress and stuff doesn’t help at all.”

As Summers’ birthday approached, Wells contemplated what she might have been like over a year and a half since she was last seen.

“I don’t really want to celebrate her birthday without her,” the heartbroken dad said.

“She would definitely grow tall, probably as tall as me I’d say because she’s grown so quickly.

“I’m sure she would be the same person.

“And she had no qualms about taking on her brothers, that’s for sure.

“She didn’t hesitate to put her in her place very quickly.”

TRAGICAL STORY

Summer’s family said she was last seen planting flowers in her front yard with her mother and grandmother before going inside at 6.30pm to play with her toys.

She was never seen again.

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