Newly released video footage reveals that a teenager who went missing over two weeks ago was last spotted on a bridge spanning a river. Police authorities in New York City have shared a clip believed to show Thomas Medlin, 15, on a pedestrian walkway on January 9 at 7:06 pm. The investigation into Thomas’ disappearance has extensively involved analyzing video footage and digital evidence.
Thomas reportedly left his home in Long Island, New York, to meet an individual he had been communicating with online, with the intention of meeting them in Manhattan. The route to Manhattan would have required him to cross the Manhattan Bridge over the East River. The footage captures Thomas on the bridge on the day he was last seen by his family. Despite this, police mentioned that Thomas was not observed leaving the bridge through any exits, and other CCTV footage on the bridge recorded a splash in the water shortly after Thomas’s sighting.
According to a spokesperson from the Suffolk County Police Department, the last activity on Thomas’s cell phone was recorded on January 9 at 7:09 pm, and a nearby surveillance camera detected a splash in the water at 7:10 pm on the same day. Investigations involving subpoenas, search warrants, and examining multiple social media and online gaming profiles associated with Medlin have not shown any connection to his disappearance.
Authorities did not provide any updates on locating Medlin but stated that there is no evidence of criminal activity. They have been in continual communication with Medlin’s family to update them on the investigation. Efforts are ongoing in collaboration with law enforcement partners to bring closure to the family.
Thomas, a resident of St. James in Suffolk County, Long Island, vanished on January 9 after heading to Manhattan following school hours. He left Stony Brook School at approximately 3:30 pm and hurried to the Stony Brook Long Island Rail Road station, where he presumably boarded a train to Manhattan. About two hours later, he was spotted at Grand Central Station. A previous photo shared by police depicted the 15-year-old carrying a backpack and a large object while walking on what appeared to be a New York City subway platform.