In a chilling development that has left a Long Island family reeling, Suffolk County Police have released key details about the disappearance of 15-year-old Thomas Medlin, suggesting a tragic turn that has sparked outrage and despair.

Thomas vanished on January 9, 2026, after abruptly leaving Stony Brook School around 3:30 p.m. He reportedly dashed to the nearby Long Island Rail Road station, boarded a train to Manhattan, and was captured on surveillance footage arriving at Grand Central Terminal around 5:30 p.m. What followed has become the focal point of the investigation.

According to the latest police statement, extensive video analysis and digital evidence pinpoint Thomas’s last confirmed location on the pedestrian walkway of the Manhattan Bridge at approximately 7:06 p.m. His cellphone showed final activity just three minutes later, at 7:09 p.m. Critically, a nearby surveillance camera recorded an ominous “splash in the water” in the East River at 7:10 p.m. Disturbingly, no footage shows Thomas exiting the bridge through any pedestrian paths.

Investigators emphasize there is “no indication of criminal activity” at this stage. The department has been in constant communication with the Medlin family, sharing these findings while continuing collaboration with other law enforcement agencies to seek closure. Earlier theories linking the disappearance to an online gaming platform like Roblox have been officially ruled out following thorough reviews—no evidence of grooming, off-platform contact, or foul play tied to digital interactions emerged.

The revelation of the “splash” has hit hard. Many interpret it as a possible indication that Thomas entered the frigid waters, either intentionally or accidentally, leading to fears the worst has occurred. Yet the family remains defiant, rejecting any notion that hope should be abandoned. In public statements shared via supporters, including journalist Chris Hansen, they insist the investigation is still active, no conclusive evidence has been reached, and speculation must stop. “We are still trying to figure out what happened and where Thomas could be,” the family urged, pleading for the public to rely solely on verified facts from authorities.

Thomas, described as 5’4″, 130 pounds, white, wearing a black jacket with red stripes, dark sweatpants, and carrying a black backpack, was last seen in good spirits but acting out of character by heading alone into the city. His parents, Eva Yan and James Medlin, have organized relentless search efforts across Long Island and New York, clinging to the possibility he is safe somewhere.

As days turn into weeks since January 9, the case underscores the dangers teens face in an interconnected world, even without clear criminal elements. Police continue urging anyone with information to contact the Fourth Squad Detectives at 631-854-8452 or dial 911. For now, a family’s desperate hope collides with haunting evidence from a cold winter night on a New York bridge.