Search Intensifies for Missing Long Island Teen
Authorities now think that the missing 15-year-old boy from Long Island, who was last spotted at Grand Central Terminal two weeks ago, might have intended to meet someone he connected with through an online game, according to his concerned mother.
Thomas Medlin was reported missing after he left the Stony Brook School campus around 3:30 p.m. on January 9. He made his way to the Stony Brook Long Island Station and boarded a train heading to New York City, as noted by the Suffolk County Police Department.
The boy, from St. James, was seen on surveillance footage arriving at Grand Central about two hours later. However, he hasn’t returned home since, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.
His mother, Eva Jan, expressed devastation, stating, “He never left us,” while sharing her fears with a local news outlet. She mentioned concerning new information about the circumstances surrounding her son’s disappearance.
According to her, investigators believe he might have met someone on Roblox and planned to meet this individual in New York City—something she feels is entirely inappropriate for him.
Recently, police informed the family that Thomas’s cellphone pinged near Lower Manhattan, and he was reportedly seen on surveillance in Brooklyn, as Yang shared with the publication.
The last confirmed sighting of Medlin was near the intersection of Cherry and Rutgers streets on the Lower East Side.
His father, visibly upset, remarked, “I can’t believe why he left in the first place,” emphasizing their deep concern. “We just want him to be safe,” Yang added.
In the wake of Medlin’s disappearance, his parents have joined forces with friends to coordinate search efforts throughout Long Island and New York City.
Authorities describe the teenager as weighing around 130 pounds and standing at 5 feet 4 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a black jacket with red stripes, dark sweatpants adorned with white stripes, a black backpack, and glasses.
Anyone who may have information is urged to reach out to Suffolk County Squad 4 at 631-854-8452.
