Home / Crime
Boy missing in New York City found dead in water after two months
The remains of 15-year-old Thomas Medlin were recovered from the waters near Red Hook, Brooklyn
A teenager from Long Island, who vanished after heading to New York City two months prior and was last spotted on a bridge, has been found deceased, as confirmed by officials.
Thomas Medlin's body, age 15, was found in the waters near Red Hook, Brooklyn, on Saturday (March 7), according to a statement from the Suffolk County Police Department. His identity was confirmed days later, on Thursday (March 12).
The department had earlier stated that Thomas departed from Stony Brook School around 3:30pm on January 9, then "ran" to the Stony Brook Train Station.
He apparently boarded a train to Manhattan and was seen at Grand Central Terminal approximately two hours later.
Several weeks later, on January 26, the Suffolk County Police Department revealed that as part of their ongoing probe, which involved "extensive video canvassing and review of digital evidence," investigators determined Medlin was last reported on a footpath on the Manhattan Bridge at 7:06pm on January 9.
"The last recorded activity on his mobile device was on January 9 at 7:09pm, and nearby surveillance logged a splash in the water at 7:10pm on January 9," authorities noted, indicating the teen was "never observed leaving the bridge via walkways."
Eva Yan, Thomas's mother, previously shared with Long Island’s News 12 that her son’s disappearance was out of character—she believed he travelled to the city to meet with someone he had connected with while engaging in Roblox, an online gaming platform.
However, in their January 26 update, police reported they found no evidence to support that claim.
Police emphasised that at this point, there is "no evidence of any criminal behaviour."