Don Wells, the father of missing child Summer Wells, was arrested and charged with domestic assault. The Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest followed a reported domestic disturbance in Rogersville, Tennessee.
According to the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call on Ben Hill Road on October 12. The response resulted in Don Wells being taken into custody and charged with domestic assault. Authorities confirmed he is currently being held at the Hawkins County Jail.
Background on the Summer Wells Case
The arrest brings renewed public attention to the family, more than five years after the disappearance of Summer Wells. Summer was five years old when she went missing from her Hawkins County home on June 15, 2021. Her disappearance sparked one of the most extensive missing child investigations in the history of Tennessee.
Despite thousands of tips, multiple coordinated searches, and ongoing investigations by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, the case remains unsolved.
Previous Run-Ins With Law Enforcement
This is not the first time Don Wells has faced legal trouble since his daughter vanished in 2021. On February 9, 2022, less than a year after Summer disappeared, Don Wells pleaded guilty to a driving under the influence (DUI) charge in Hawkins County court. He subsequently served 180 days in jail.
Law enforcement officials have not released further details regarding the specific circumstances surrounding the October 12 domestic disturbance on Ben Hill Road, pending ongoing court proceedings.
