JOSEY WELLS TO RETURN HOME? | SUMMER WELLS CASE
Summer Wells has a very special place in my heart. I have been following the case from the beginning, and I always feel that Summer was failed by so many in her life. After Summer’s disappearance, her three brothers were removed from the home and placed in the custody of DCS.

The two younger ones are apparently together and have been adopted by a family. Josie has been put up for adoption and is currently waiting for his forever family. However, a post from the Wells is highly concerning and makes us wonder whether Josie will be returning home to them.

Before I get into that, Don Wells has been spreading the word that the DCS case against them has been dropped. All opinions of abuse or neglect are dropped and unsubstantiated by judge order. According to Tennessee DCS (Department of Children’s Services), Don and Candace have not abused or neglected their three sons. This is the legal final say.

So, what does that mean for Summer? If she is found safe and sound today, she can go home — back to Ben Hill Road.

Don and Candace also talked about the video of Josie. They said that “The video of Josie gave us pride in our son, but seeing him marketed online like an Amazon product for sale is wrenching.” They continue to say that Josie should be sent home and they expect him any day now.

Tim Mullen, the so-called media manager for the Wells, says that the system has no idea how to handle an Amber Alert family. The boys were removed solely because Summer Wells went missing. That means 60% of the witnesses that were in the house on the day Summer vanished were taken away. DCS cleared them the day before Summer vanished — and now again. They want them to write the wrongs and start by sending Josie home.

Don did a media interview and he stated that they haven’t talked to law enforcement in a long time. They have two private detectives that handle that. Candace declined to do an on-camera interview. She wanted to, but then the fear started creeping up. Apparently, Candace is having nightmares — and then adds the social media pressure, with people online saying that they are suspects. It just adds to the living nightmare.

“Uh, hello everyone. This is Don Wells. Um, we’re here to report to you that, uh, we’ve got official letters from the heads of DCS that we are cleared from any abuse and neglect on our parts towards our children. Thank you very much. Have a great day.” 

There are certain stories that embed themselves deep into your heart, never letting go. For me, that story is Summer Wells. From the very beginning, I felt an unexplainable connection to this little girl, a magnetic pull toward her smile, her innocence, and the tragedy that came to define her young life. Her disappearance has haunted countless people, but beyond the headlines and press briefings, there’s a deeper, more painful reality: Summer was failed in ways that go far beyond what happened the day she vanished.

Summer Wells was just five years old when she disappeared from her family’s rural home in Hawkins County, Tennessee, on June 15, 2021. One moment she was reportedly playing outside near the garden, and the next, she was gone. Her mother, Candus Bly, told police that Summer was last seen going into the house, and then she vanished without a trace. The timeline was thin, the details vague, and the circumstances confusing. But as time passed, what became painfully clear was that this wasn’t just a case of a missing child — it was a case of deep-rooted systemic failure.

The Wells home was already on the radar of local authorities long before Summer disappeared. There were reports of neglect, questions about living conditions, and concerns raised by neighbors and even extended family. After Summer went missing, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) acted swiftly to remove her three older brothers from the home. That action alone suggests there were issues present that made the environment unfit — not just after a tragedy, but likely long before.

To understand how a child like Summer could fall through the cracks, you have to look at the broader picture. In rural America, cases of child neglect or endangerment are often underreported and under-investigated due to lack of resources, geographic isolation, and a culture of privacy. The Wells family lived in a part of the state where oversight is limited, and where families can live in isolation for years without intervention, even when red flags are visible.

From what has been shared publicly, Summer’s life before her disappearance was not a fairy tale. Photos and home videos show a little girl who was bright and vibrant, yet surrounded by instability. Her parents, Don Wells and Candus Bly, have offered conflicting stories about the events of that day. Don had a criminal history, and both parents have been the subject of public scrutiny over their behavior before and after Summer went missing. What’s perhaps most troubling is the defensive posture they adopted early on — more focused on blaming others than confronting hard truths.

Public frustration with the case has grown exponentially as months turned into years with no resolution. Many who followed Summer’s story from the beginning feel the same gut-wrenching ache: that this child didn’t just vanish — she was forgotten long before she was gone. The silence from law enforcement at times has been deafening. Though the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation maintains that Summer’s case is active and ongoing, the lack of transparency has left many feeling helpless, angry, and deeply suspicious.

The removal of Summer’s brothers after her disappearance was a key turning point. For many, it confirmed what they feared — that the home environment was too toxic for any child to be safe. Though specific details about the DCS investigation remain sealed due to privacy laws, it is understood that the agency found significant enough cause to act. That begs the question: why wasn’t this action taken sooner? And if there were clear warning signs, why wasn’t Summer protected in time?

The reality is that child welfare systems across the United States are overwhelmed. Caseworkers are burdened with more children than they can properly oversee. Policies vary from state to state, and rural communities often fall through the bureaucratic cracks. But these systemic issues are no excuse for what happened to Summer. Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and protected — regardless of zip code, socioeconomic status, or parental background.

Summer’s disappearance also raised questions about media responsibility and public engagement. For months, her face was plastered on digital billboards, news reports, and YouTube channels — but not all attention was good attention. Online sleuths and self-proclaimed investigators muddied the waters with speculation, misinformation, and at times, outright exploitation. While some genuinely wanted to help, others seemed more concerned with clicks and clout than finding the truth. In the end, the noise only further obscured the signal.

But through the chaos, the core truth remains: a five-year-old girl named Summer Wells disappeared, and justice still hasn’t been served. Whether she wandered off, was abducted, or met with harm in her own home — someone knows something. And someone must be held accountable. The heartbreak for those who loved her — and for those of us who have grown to love her through her story — is that Summer has not had a voice in her own tragedy.

As a society, we have to ask ourselves how many children like Summer are out there right now — living in danger, overlooked by broken systems, and ignored until it’s too late. Summer’s case should be a wake-up call. It should drive reforms in how child welfare is managed, particularly in underserved and rural areas. It should remind every adult that protecting children isn’t just a parental duty — it’s a societal one.

No child should ever be forgotten. No child should ever live in fear, neglect, or danger. And no child should disappear without the full weight of our collective will pushing for answers.

Summer Wells has a very special place in my heart — not just because of what happened to her, but because of what didn’t happen for her. She didn’t get the safety she needed. She didn’t get the voice she deserved. And she didn’t get the protection that every child is entitled to. We can’t undo what’s been done, but we can commit to doing better — for Summer, for her brothers, and for the countless others like her.

If we truly care, then we must keep asking the hard questions. We must keep demanding answers. And we must never stop saying her name.

Summer Moon-Utah Wells. You are not forgotten.