Summer Wells – One Year Later
The location of Summer Wells, a five-year-old girl with blue eyes and buzzed light blonde hair, who was just about to begin kindergarten in September 2021, has been the focus of many searches since June 15, 2021. That was the day her parents, Donald Wells and Candus Bly Wells, called 911 to let Hawkins County Sheriff’s department that Summer Wells was no longer in the care of her parents. They claim not to know where she went or what happened…she was apparently just there one moment, and **POOF** gone the next. Immaculate interception.
Both parents immediately claimed Summer had been kidnapped; a claim they have never given evidence to support, but one they have held close to their chests and consistently favored.
WJHL: TBI: Summer Wells case remains mystery 1 year later
When a child goes missing, there is initial collective empathy for parents who lost their child, but once Candus spoke publically, about two weeks after Summer went missing, attention was laser focused on her and Don and it really never let up. Sheriff Ronnie Lawson has repeatedly said that everyone is suspect and the parents have been prime suspects since the beginning. Their bizarre accounts, changing stories, lack of clear details, criminal pasts, history of domestic violence, open (and historic) CPS cases raised immediate questions about the safety of the Well’s home for four young children. Six weeks after Summer went missing, CPS removed her three older brothers (oldest was twelve) from the home. They were not returned to the parents’ custody.
YouTube creators who cover true crime cases picked up on the many irregularities in the case early on and many have been instrumental in bringing what information we know so far to the public through private messages with people involved, old-fashioned research, and having guests with inside knowledge appear on their live streams to talk about what they know.
Personally, I believe YouTube is a wonderful arena for personal expression and social development. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s undeniable that people have been learning through this case how to have discussions about topics no one wants to broach. It’s valuable for society and sacred, in a way, and I don’t like to see all of online activity passed off as harmful uselessness when, in fact, very real bridge-building is happening on a social level that shouldn’t be shoved to the side.
Many questions have arisen about this case in the public realm and there are very impactful conversations happening all over the place that don’t get credit because they take place on “social media” and participants are therefore assumed to be attention whores of the greatest proportions, but not everyone who uses a platform is there for the same reason. I say “social media” has gotten a bad reputation due to some things that transpired as Summer’s investigation was ongoing that I don’t think are fair or accurate representations of what is actually happening.
In terms of the role we all play on social media or in “real life,” it really boils down to not giving the naughty children the most attention and not talking about their tantrums as though they are scholarly assertions that deserve debate and airtime. In that space, where we think forward and don’t spin wheels in other people’s or our own shit, creation and collaboration can explode. I’m not going to get into a bunch of gibberish that maybe four people alive would care about, so I’ll just say that it makes me sad when I see people using all of their amazing creative energy to talk about ugly things and wear unlikable personas. I know nobody wants to be that way, that it’s a result of feeling so raw and untrusting of the world, too many things let you down and you get that way, it’s not easy to come back from, but one thing that would help, like fixing a leaking tap, is to stop talking smack for a living. Do it sometimes for effect, if it’s in your skill set, but keep it hidden and pull it out what it’s appropriate. Govern yourself. Wear your crown straight.
Of course, credibility is always a concern, especially when certain themes came up across the board. One thing is that Don and Candus were known drug users, with a lengthy history in drug scenes, by Don’s own admission. An “urban myth” about the Wells’ is that they gave drugs and alcohol to their kids, that came from Allyson Harris, her son “H” who is a minor, Sherri Mullaney, Allyson’s mother, and other people who claim to be friends or acquaintances. Allyson and “H” saw Candus and Summer on June 15, earlier in the day before she disappeared and both of them gave accounts of the day that are incongruent in parts with how Candus claims the day unfolded. For example, Candus told Chris McDonough that she changed Summer into her bathing suit on the morning of June 15 before they left the house because Summer often got too hot and it was a warm day, but “H” told Chris that Candus brought Summer into his house and changed her there, around 10:30am on June 15. “H” also said that Candus bought vapes and Twisted Tea and gave them to “H” to enjoy, but Candus, while she admits that she purchases both of the items, denies that she allowed “H” to have them and said she didn’t know if he took a vape when she wasn’t looking or not. Essentially, there is enough smoke to indicate there’s a fire burning somewhere.
Jose Roman, who spent a short time living with the Wells in 2020, allegedly was back in Beech Creek, according to Don’s ex-coworker, Dudley Ajan, staying in the camper with Grandus until Summer went missing or at least until the weekend right before June 15. Jose came out to YouTube in March 2022 to discuss his time at the Wells’ and speak of what he knew of Summer, but, although he was received warmly at first as the first person who spoke life into Summer’s personality for the general public, his stories were analyzed with fine-tooth combs and often found wanting. According to Jose, Don, Candus, and Allyson, Jose left in October 2020 and never came back.
Interestingly, although Jose spoke out publically (for the first time) nine months into the case, he claimed to not be aware of any of the public speculation connecting him to Summer’s case. In fact, much of what Jose relayed to YouTube is information that was already widely known. Jose elaborated on very little tangible detail and managed to sew a great deal of confusion into the narrative he shared by giving vague time frames for when he was actually there and by using strange familiarity with all the players, like how he spoke about H’s psychological issues as though he had just been visiting with him every week for six months. I couldn’t decide if Jose was reciting a part, telling a watered version of the truth, or if he was actually WAS around when Summer went missing.
Sadly, Jose passed away several weeks ago, according to news that has been spread around YouTube. Little is known about the circumstances of his death except that he was “across the country” from New York where his kids living when it happened. Toxicology reports have not yet been released and cause of death has not been announced.
Candus apparently is MIA. She’s not staying in Beech Creek anymore and allegedly has surrendered all the dogs from the pack that lived in the woods by their home. It’s rumored that she’s staying in a neighboring town somewhere. Don B said she pulled up beside him at a traffic light last week, so he is aware what town she’s in and has informed the TBI. Don B said Candus looked good and has said he has even heard rumors that she’s trying to get the boys back.
Focus on Don Wells has faded slightly while he’s serving time in Hawkins county jail, but his release date is approaching so we will see what his life looks like once he’s back home. It will be interesting to see what happens once Don comes home to 110 Ben Hill Rd, whether the case will start moving forward or if anything new will ever surface.