On December 5, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office issued a purple alert for Thomas Scott Cunningham of Spring Hill, who was last seen in Pinellas County. The Thursday press release requested the community’s assistance in finding Cunningham and has not issued any updates on the man’s whereabouts.
The 34-year-old Cunningham has an active Hernando County warrant for Written Threats to Kill and has made “irrational statements and comments about committing self-harm” before going missing, according to the release.
He was last seen driving a 2021 gray Nissan Rogue in the Pinellas County area. Citizens are encouraged to keep an eye out for Cunningham’s tag, which bore the characters 03DMNR.
Mr. Cunningham’s physical appearance and other personal details are as follows:
- Race: White
- Sex: Male
- Date of Birth: March 14, 1990
- Height: 5’9”
- Weight: 170
- Eyes: Blue
- Hair Brown
If anyone has seen or knows the current whereabouts of the missing 34-year-old, it is advisable to call the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office at (352) 754-6830 or your local law enforcement agency.
The HCSO urges any individuals who have identified Cunningham not to engage in contact with him. The sheriff’s office noted that purple alerts are issued for those who meet at least one of the several criteria below:
- Such a person could have a “mental or cognitive disability,” but it would not be of the Alzheimer’s or dementia-related variety.
- He could have “an intellectual or developmental disability (brain injury, physical/mental/emotional disability not related to substance abuse, or any combination of these).”
- There is a “credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm” to the person of interest, and they cannot be “returned to safety” without the assistance of authorities.
- Mr. Cunningham does not meet the criteria for the activation of a Silver Alert or Silver Alert Plan, however.
For context, a silver alert is defined as a bulletin whose purpose is to notify the public of a “missing, wandering older adult who may be suffering from a documented cognitive disability or degenerative memory disorder,” noted CivicPlus.com. The primary difference between Purple and Silver Alerts is the nature and origin of the mental disorder appears to be caused by advanced age.
Cunningham is also facing charges of petit theft and possessing an anti-shoplifting or inventory control device countermeasure. On various occasions, he’s been found guilty of dealing in stolen property (multiple), witness intimidation, burglary of a dwelling (multiple), defrauding a pawnbroker, possession of a firearm by felon, and possession of a controlled substance.
