New Evidence Shows Boy Who Disappeared After Traveling to N.Y.C. 2 Weeks Ago Was Last Seen on Bridge
He May Have Jumped, According to Police
The Disappearance of Thomas Medlin: New Evidence Points to Chilling Final Moments on Manhattan Bridge
Posted: January 29, 2026
Location: New York City, New York
Status: Active Investigation
The Disappearance
Fifteen-year-old Thomas Medlin vanished on the evening of January 9, 2026, after traveling from his home in St. James, Long Island, into Manhattan. What began as a baffling missing persons case has taken a grim turn following the release of new surveillance evidence that captures the teenager’s final known movements on the pedestrian walkway of the Manhattan Bridge.
Thomas, a student at Stony Brook School, left campus at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Friday, January 9, and ran to the nearby Stony Brook Long Island Rail Road station, where he boarded a train into the city. He was later spotted at Grand Central Terminal around 5:30 p.m., captured on camera wearing a black jacket with red stripes, dark sweatpants with white stripes, a black backpack, and glasses.
The Chilling Timeline
According to an update from the Suffolk County Police Department issued Wednesday, January 28, extensive video canvassing and digital forensic analysis have established a disturbing timeline of Thomas’s final known movements:
7:06 p.m.: Thomas is last seen on the pedestrian walkway of the Manhattan Bridge, which spans the East River connecting Lower Manhattan to Downtown Brooklyn.
7:09 p.m.: The final activity is recorded on his cell phone.
7:10 p.m.: A nearby surveillance camera captures a splash in the water below the bridge.
Perhaps most troubling, investigators noted that Thomas was never observed leaving the bridge via any pedestrian exits.
The Roblox Connection Theory
In the days immediately following Thomas’s disappearance, his mother, Eva Yan, made emotional public pleas for her son’s safe return. Speaking to national media outlets, Yan suggested that Thomas may have been communicating with someone he met through the online gaming platform Roblox and that he traveled to Manhattan intending to meet this individual.
“He’s not in trouble,” Yan told Fox News in an emotional interview. “We just want to know he’s safe.” She described her son’s actions as completely out of character for the quiet 15-year-old.
However, the police update appears to have closed that avenue of investigation. Under subpoenas and search warrants, detectives conducted forensic examinations of multiple social media accounts, online gaming profiles, and electronic devices associated with Thomas. Authorities ultimately determined that none of these platforms, including Roblox, were connected to his disappearance.
The Investigation
The Suffolk County Police Department has been working in coordination with multiple law enforcement partners to piece together what happened to Thomas during those final hours. The investigation has involved:
Extensive video canvassing across Manhattan and Brooklyn
Comprehensive review of digital evidence and cell phone records
Forensic examination of electronic devices
Analysis of social media and gaming platform activity
Despite the concerning circumstances surrounding the bridge footage, police have stated there is “no indication of criminal activity” in the case. Detectives remain in continuous communication with the Medlin family as they work to bring closure to the devastating situation.
What We Know About Thomas
Thomas Medlin is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing about 130 pounds. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing distinctive clothing: a black jacket with red stripes, dark sweatpants with white stripes, glasses, and carrying a black backpack.
Images released by police show the teenager on a subway platform, appearing to hold a large object while wearing his backpack.
The Manhattan Bridge
The Manhattan Bridge, which carries vehicle traffic, subway trains, and pedestrian walkways over the East River, has seen its share of tragedy over the years. The pedestrian walkways offer views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline, but at approximately 135 feet at its highest point, the bridge presents significant danger.
The timing of the surveillance footage—one minute separating Thomas’s final phone activity from the splash captured on camera—raises heartbreaking questions about whether the teenager ended up in the water below.
How to Help
The Suffolk County Police Department continues to investigate Thomas Medlin’s disappearance. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact:
Fourth Squad detectives at 631-854-8452
Call 911 to report immediate sightings or information
The case remains active as authorities work to determine exactly what happened to Thomas during those final minutes on the bridge, and whether the splash captured on camera holds the key to understanding the fate of the missing teenager.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.