🚨 MOM CHECKED HIS PHONE DAILY… But missed his SECRET Roblox account where a “friend” BEGGED: “Don’t go. It’s NOT SAFE.” 😱

15-year-old Thomas Medlin told his parents he was “staying late at school.” They trusted him, planned to pick him up at 9 PM. But at 3:30 PM, he RAN—RAN!—to catch a train to Manhattan. His family: “He NEVER runs anywhere. Totally out of character.”

Cameras catch him alone, wandering unfamiliar NYC streets. Mom Eva thought she knew his online world—reviewed every notification on his main Roblox. But the hidden account? Chats with strangers… and that chilling warning he ignored.

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The disappearance of 15-year-old Thomas Medlin from his Long Island home has taken a darker turn with revelations about a hidden online life his mother believed she monitored closely, fueling family outrage and renewed scrutiny of police handling.

Thomas, a student at The Stony Brook School in Stony Brook, vanished on January 9, 2026, after leaving campus around 3:30 p.m. He had texted his parents he was staying late for extracurriculars, assuring them they’d pick him up at 9 p.m. Instead, surveillance showed him sprinting—uncharacteristically—to the Stony Brook LIRR station, boarding a train bound for Manhattan.

His mother, Eva Medlin (also reported as Eva Yan in some coverage), told investigators the running was “completely out of character.” Thomas, described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, 130 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, was a quiet teen who “never ran anywhere,” she emphasized.

By 5:30 p.m., cameras captured him at Grand Central Terminal, wandering alone through unfamiliar East Side neighborhoods—areas he’d never visited before, per family accounts. Two weeks later, chilling new details emerged: Thomas was last definitively seen on the Manhattan Bridge, with surveillance allegedly capturing a “splash in the water” nearby, prompting fears of foul play or accident.

Eva Medlin routinely checked Thomas’s phone and main Roblox account daily, reviewing notifications to ensure his safety on the popular gaming platform frequented by kids. “I thought I knew everything about his online life. I was being careful,” she shared in interviews with Fox & Friends and Chris Hansen’s podcast. But investigators later uncovered a second, secret Roblox account where Thomas chatted with unknown users—conversations his mother had no visibility into.

In one exchange, an online acquaintance warned him explicitly: “Don’t go. It’s not safe. You have to watch out.” Despite the caution, Thomas proceeded, leading to speculation he traveled to meet someone from the platform—a narrative initially reported but vehemently rejected by the family and Suffolk County Police.

The family has slammed authorities for mishandling leads and spreading unverified Roblox claims, with Eva stating on January 30 they were “furious” at cops for pursuing false trails two weeks in. Suffolk PD clarified there is “no evidence” tying the disappearance to a Roblox meetup, shifting focus to the bridge footage and East Side searches.

The timeline paints a picture of deception and urgency: Parents expected Thomas home by evening, unaware of his city-bound dash. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans, black sneakers, and carrying a black backpack. NYPD and Suffolk detectives canvassed Manhattan, reviewing thousands of hours of video, but no confirmed sightings post-bridge.

New evidence from January 29 showed Thomas on the bridge over the East River, moments before the anomalous splash—described as “troubling” by sources close to the probe. Divers and sonar teams scoured the waterway, but nothing surfaced. The family disputes early reports, insisting Thomas wasn’t a runaway and had no history of rebellion.

Eva appeared on “Have a Seat with Chris Hansen,” pleading: “Thomas is a good kid. He wouldn’t do this.” The podcast highlighted the secret account’s role, with online sleuths on Reddit’s r/MissingPersons uncovering chats via leaked screenshots (unverified by police).

Suffolk County Police continue leading the multi-agency effort, with tips flooding in via 631-852-LONG. Flyers blanket NYC subways, and a $10,000 reward stands. The Medlins have rejected runaway theories, pointing to the out-of-character sprint and ignored warning as signs of manipulation.

Experts warn of online grooming risks on Roblox, where user-generated worlds can foster anonymous interactions. The platform’s moderation has faced criticism, though no direct link is confirmed here.

As weeks stretch into a month (Feb. 13 marks Day 35), the family clings to hope amid despair. Searches persist on the East Side and bridge, with digital forensics probing the secret account for IP traces or contacts.

Thomas Medlin’s case—secret digital double life, frantic train dash, ominous splash—underscores parental vigilance limits in the online shadows. For Eva and family, every unchecked notification haunts: What if she’d seen the warning? Will Thomas return, or has the water claimed another teen?