9-year-old safe as alleged kidnapper held at gunpoint until cops arrive

Nine-year-old Carlie Trent has been found safe in Hawkins County, according to FOX 17 in Nashville, TN.

Trent was reported missing a week ago when her uncle by marriage, Gary Simpson, picked her up from school without permission.

TBI said two Hawkins County residents were checking a remote area Thursday when they spotted Carlie and Gary Simpson off of a road on Highway 70 North in Eidson, Tennessee.

They said Donnie Lawson and Pastor Roger Carpenter came across Simpson and held him at gunpoint until law enforcement arrived.

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Authorities did not mention if Lawson and Carpenter will receive the substantial reward which has grown to over $40,000 with contributions from the U.S. Marshals Service to Carlie’s pediatrician.

Simpson is in custody and charged with aggravated kidnapping. He may face additional charges as the investigation progresses.

Carlie was taken to an area hospital to be checked out, but officials said that she appeared to be okay.

Carlie had been missing for more than a week and a two-state AMBER Alert was issued in Tennessee and Missouri. A sighting of the two at a grocery store re-focused efforts in Tennessee.

Simpson was also seen on surveillance video buying camping items, as well as nail polish and a pink blanked, before Carlie went missing.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said it received more than 1,500 tips from 19 states in the AMBER Alert case.