There is a press conference today - I'm just hearing about it. 1:00 central time with a live feed.
Ok the press conference was interesting, to say the least. Here's a rundown:
---8 months missing, many miss him
---no closer to finding him than the day he went missing
---foul play is still suspected
---Tom was with friends at Middle School at 11:00ish, left school around 1120
---Got gas, texted friend right before midnight. Friend replied immediately but text was never read by Tom.
---By 12:03 mom and brother were texting Tom, text never read
---all night search, vehicle found
--vehicle returned to home by LE that day, backpack found in January
---assumptions made in beginning wasted time, frustrated by lack of leads, questions how investigation has been handled
---wants case sent to DPS and TX Rangers
---$40K reward an no tips, Sheriff thinks (according to mom) its a cold case. Mom wants case turned over ASAP
---Moms for Tom is working to get Tom's face out to the public, made a video
---Mom still texts Tom, text go unanswered
---(shared video of Tom)
-_-Sheriff speaks and says it is not a cold case, directly disputing what mom said.
---Rangers are helping 2x a week investigating
Q&A Session (with the Sheriff)
Where did the 25 caliber shell casing come from? Cannot be answered, active investigation. The shell casing has been sent to crime lab.
What evidence has been sent to lab? Wont specifically tell what was found, but its all being investigated at crime lab. The computer is complete, and had no helpful information on it.
Why was vehicle released immediately? No one knew it would turn out like this. Thought Tom would come back home.
When you found evidence of the backpack, did you change your theory? No. But I cant tell you anything about the backpack.
Has FBI been called in for a profile? Yes, the FBI out of Amarillo is involved.
Would DPS or Texas Rangers have more resources? No, we are using all the resources available.
Has Lake Marvin been dredged? No, but it has been sonared and side sonared, ground searches. Lake Marvin is not a POI.
Do you have alibis from everyone from 1130-4:00 that morning? Will not discuss. Not yet.
Are you sure that was Tom getting gas? No, no video suvailance. But his debit card was used.
Have you exhausted all leads? No, its not closed, nor cold.
Do locals have information? Very well could be.
Was it an error that it was called a cold case? It was never called a cold case.
Where telephone records analyzed? The FBI is working on the phone records.
Case was described as a runaway. Is it still? No evidence to say a crime has been committed. He is just missing.
Was Thomas outdoorsy? Did he wonder off? Anything is possible.
Tip was reported about suspicious house. House had blood stains on carpet. They investigated, it was not human blood. DPS has tools that local LE don't have, and they ruled it out that it was not human blood.
Will you turn case over to cold case? Yes. It is becomes cold.
Has all the evidence come back from lab? Most is back, but cannot talk about what came back.
Is there a reward? Yes. $40K, give or take. Not about money. Its about Tom.
Any similar disappears in surrounding communities? Yes. We are looking at a case in Childress Co.
If no crime has been committed, are you still going to give case your full attention? Yes. We investigate evidence. And at this point I cant tell you what happened.
Question to Mom -
If Thomas ran away, would he contact you after 8 months? Yes. He was a mommas boy. Mom says he did not run away. He had no money, no clothes, has debit card never used. Did not take chargers, etc. Moms gut feeling is something nefarious happened based on where the car is located. Thinks its someone from the area, not a transient.
Is Klein Investigations is involved? Yes, they are still getting tips.
Should Lake Marvin be searched? Yes. Why not?
Is Klein and Sheriff working well together? Yes, she hopes that they are trying to bring Tom home.
Tom's dad says they just need prayers. (Dad goes into Preacher-mode at this point). Lives will be changed because of Thomas missing.
