New footage has helped investigators narrow down the final known whereabouts of a Long Island teen who vanished in New York City more than two weeks ago, authorities said.
In an update on Wednesday, Jan. 28, the Suffolk County Police Department said that after “extensive video canvassing and review of digital evidence,” detectives determined that Thomas Medlin, 15, was last seen on a pedestrian walkway on the Manhattan Bridge on Jan. 9 at 7:06 p.m.
The Manhattan Bridge connects Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn and crosses the East River.
Police said Medlin’s cell phone showed its last activity at 7:09 p.m. on Jan. 9. A nearby surveillance camera also captured what police described as a splash in the water at 7:10 p.m. that same night. Investigators added that the teen was “never seen leaving the bridge via path exits.”
Earlier, Medlin’s family had said they believed he may have traveled into the city to meet someone he connected with through Roblox. But in the department’s latest update, police said they have not found evidence supporting that theory.
“Under the issuance of subpoenas and search warrants, an examination so far of multiple social media/online gaming profiles and forensic examination of electronic devices associated with Medlin was conducted,” police said. “This examination has determined these platforms are not connected to his disappearance.”
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Police also said there is “no indication of criminal activity.”
“Detectives have continuously communicated the department’s findings to Medlin’s family,” the department added. “The department is continuing to work with its law enforcement partners to bring closure to the family.”
Thomas Medlin, of St. James, disappeared on Jan. 9 after heading into Manhattan following school, according to an earlier department release posted online on Jan. 12. Police said he left Stony Brook School at about 3:30 p.m. and ran to the Stony Brook Long Island Rail Road station, where he appeared to board a train into Manhattan.
The teen was later seen at Grand Central Station about two hours afterward, authorities said.
In an earlier statement, a spokesperson for Roblox said the company was “deeply troubled by this incident and are working with law enforcement to support their investigation.” The company did not provide additional comment when contacted again following the latest police update.
