Deceased/Not Found NC - Christopher 'Cole' Thomas, 22, Benson, 25 Nov 2016 *Arrests*

[BloodHoundSleuther]

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Oops let me clear up my mistake. Being military, living in many places and awake before the chickens. I said Mt Holly but instead meant MT. OLIVE. (we lived near mt. Holly in nj and MT. OLIVE in NC. Sorry for that mix up.

Without looking...I want to say the Dad of Cole or the family page mentioned MT. OLIVE. I will go look in a few.

This is the first I found stating Cole was last seen in MT. OLIVE on the Find Cole Thomas website
https://www.facebook.com/findcolethomas/

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1079320552176442&substory_index=0&id=1054729364635561

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I find the information in the thread found at the second link you posted particularly helpful (I hope that it is OK that I am quoting the following FB posts, since they all come directly from the admin.; all BBM):

1. "From what we were told, the guys were on there way back to Minnesota. The video was taken in Mt. Olive , as they were headed back to Minn, stopped in Benson, for what ever reason and by the 2 guys account is where Cole got out of the vehicle." (It may be helpful to point out that Mt. Olive is east of Benson)

2. 1) "The photo of Cole at the store was at the Handi Mart in Mt Olive around 11:30 pm.
Thursday."
2) "The 2 guys that were with Cole left the store with him. When they reported Cole missing or ran off it was @ 3am on Friday at the intersection in Benson."
(As it has already been posted by some on here, it's only a 35 to 40 minute drive from Mt. Olive to Benson)
3) "The 2 guys had Cole's phone and his personal truck keys with them. They were in a blue trailblazer."

3. "There was no 'big deal' or even proof of one. That was a misinformed leak on a news hungry reporter who didn't get the facts."
(I think there was some sort of LE document posted upthread stating that it was one of the two who traveled with Cole that claimed they -along with Cole- had traveled to NC for a drug deal. So, does the above quote mean that has since been disproved?")

4. "All phones have been 'pinged' which brings us back to the map at the beginning of this post. The video/pic has been reviewed in its entirety by Cole's parents. That confirmed pic was a stop on their way out of NC, not headed in."

5. "One (of the two who traveled with Cole) is from Goldsboro and has family there." (It's a 25 to 30 minute drive from Goldsboro to Mt. Olive, and 45 to 50 from Goldsboro to Benson; Goldsboro is east of both Mt. Olive and Benson)

 

[LisaWL7TR]

I find the information in the thread found at the second link you posted particularly helpful (I hope that it is OK that I am quoting the following FB posts, since they all come directly from the admin.; all BBM):

1. "From what we were told, the guys were on there way back to Minnesota. The video was taken in Mt. Olive , as they were headed back to Minn, stopped in Benson, for what ever reason and by the 2 guys account is where Cole got out of the vehicle." (It may be helpful to point out that Mt. Olive is east of Benson)

2. 1) "The photo of Cole at the store was at the Handi Mart in Mt Olive around 11:30 pm.
Thursday."
2) "The 2 guys that were with Cole left the store with him. When they reported Cole missing or ran off it was @ 3am on Friday at the intersection in Benson."
(As it has already been posted by some on here, it's only a 35 to 40 minute drive from Mt. Olive to Benson)
3) "The 2 guys had Cole's phone and his personal truck keys with them. They were in a blue trailblazer."

3. "There was no 'big deal' or even proof of one. That was a misinformed leak on a news hungry reporter who didn't get the facts."
(I think there was some sort of LE document posted upthread stating that it was one of the two who traveled with Cole that claimed they -along with Cole- had traveled to NC for a drug deal. So, does the above quote mean that has since been disproved?")

4. "All phones have been 'pinged' which brings us back to the map at the beginning of this post. The video/pic has been reviewed in its entirety by Cole's parents. That confirmed pic was a stop on their way out of NC, not headed in."

5. "One (of the two who traveled with Cole) is from Goldsboro and has family there." (It's a 25 to 30 minute drive from Goldsboro to Mt. Olive, and 45 to 50 from Goldsboro to Benson; Goldsboro is east of both Mt. Olive and Benson)

I lived in Goldsboro for 6 years and Goldsboro and Mt. Olive are Wayne County. Benson is Johnson(ville) County, I think. I would need to look back, I can understand counties sharing info. So if that video pic is indeed Mt. Olive it seems strange they shared with Benson imho...unless they wanted to let Benson take on the case since Cole was reported as last seen there.

As shown on the Find Cole Page the Dad, I believe got the info about the video/pic and Benson(not sure from who/whom). Also from that pic they got that the clothes Cole was reported as wearing when last seen was different than what was reported. It also seems like that video/pic hasn't been posted much lately?
A lot of mystery for a small town area. moo



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[DakotaMayi]

Case Map

Let me know if I can add routes/anything else.

Thanks to Bloodhoundsleuther for details

 

[BloodHoundSleuther]

You're the best keptrova_x! Thank you so much for helping to create the case map!

 

[BloodHoundSleuther]

I find the information in the thread found at the second link you posted particularly helpful (I hope that it is OK that I am quoting the following FB posts, since they all come directly from the admin.; all BBM):

1. "From what we were told, the guys were on there way back to Minnesota. The video was taken in Mt. Olive , as they were headed back to Minn, stopped in Benson, for what ever reason and by the 2 guys account is where Cole got out of the vehicle." (It may be helpful to point out that Mt. Olive is east of Benson)

2. 1) "The photo of Cole at the store was at the Handi Mart in Mt Olive around 11:30 pm.
Thursday."
2) "The 2 guys that were with Cole left the store with him. When they reported Cole missing or ran off it was @ 3am on Friday at the intersection in Benson."
(As it has already been posted by some on here, it's only a 35 to 40 minute drive from Mt. Olive to Benson)
3) "The 2 guys had Cole's phone and his personal truck keys with them. They were in a blue trailblazer."

3. "There was no 'big deal' or even proof of one. That was a misinformed leak on a news hungry reporter who didn't get the facts."
(I think there was some sort of LE document posted upthread stating that it was one of the two who traveled with Cole that claimed they -along with Cole- had traveled to NC for a drug deal. So, does the above quote mean that has since been disproved?")

4. "All phones have been 'pinged' which brings us back to the map at the beginning of this post. The video/pic has been reviewed in its entirety by Cole's parents. That confirmed pic was a stop on their way out of NC, not headed in."

5. "One (of the two who traveled with Cole) is from Goldsboro and has family there." (It's a 25 to 30 minute drive from Goldsboro to Mt. Olive, and 45 to 50 from Goldsboro to Benson; Goldsboro is east of both Mt. Olive and Benson)

Working off the quoted post and the case map, it's a 40 minute commute from the Mt.Olive convienence store where Cole was last seen at 11:30 PM to the intersection in Benson where the Chevy blazer was found @ 3AM. So outside of that 40 minute commute what were these guys doing for almost 3 hours?

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

If the information posted on the FCT page is correct (i.e., Cole was captured on video at a shop in Mt. Olive at 11:30 PM on Thursday, while Cole was found to be missing at 3 AM on Friday), and it takes only 35 to 40 minutes to get to Benson from Mt. Olive, I suspect that the two traveling with Cole harmed him and disposed of his body (hated typing that ) somewhere between those two towns.

As to how Cole ended up in NC, it could have gone down like this (=speculation):

1. The two acquaintances of Cole's approach him with a story, telling him that there is an opportunity to make a lot of money buying a large amount of drugs in NC (one of the acquaintances is from NC, so he could have told Cole he found out about it from a contact back home), transporting it back to MN and eventually selling it here.

2. The two also tell Cole they don't have the cash to pay for the drugs upfront, and ask Cole if he could lend them money, perhaps even promising him a larger cut once they sell the drugs. Cole agrees, and decides to go with them maybe because he does not trust them enough to let them drive all the way to NC with his money, especially if he had met them only two weeks prior to the trip. It's also possible that Cole was not getting paid until the Friday after Thanksgiving, and needed the pay check deposited into his bank account before he could come up with the funds needed, in which case he would have had to travel to NC with the other two and withdraw money once there (it may be worthwhile to point out that Cole was last seen on camera at 11:30 PM on Thanksgiving Day).

3. Once Cole (i.e., the one with ATM card PIN) produces the cash, his traveling companions have no use for him, so they harm him, getting rid of the body (and possibly the weapon used in the commission of the crime) somewhere between Mt. Olive and Benson.

4. The two men drive to Benson but are spotted by an LE officer while waiting for the dealer to arrive. One of the throws the key to the car out of the window, which lands underneath the car. They might have already come up with the story of Cole bolting out of the car at that point, or they might not have.

5. The deal never takes place, LE does not find drugs on the men, and thus they are let go.

Honestly though, I personally don't believe a word coming out of the mouths of the two, so it would not surprise me at all if there was no drug deal in the first place. Just trying to think what could possibly have prompted Cole to travel to NC with two people he apparently had known just for a couple of weeks. IIRC, Cole never told his family about his trip to NC despite staying in touch with them during the time he would have been on his way there and even telling his aunt he had to work on Friday, so chances are it wasn't like he went there to celebrate Thanksgiving with his new friends/acquaintances; he did not want his loved ones to know about this trip.

Really, whatever he may have been up to, I hope that he is found and soon. I'm not terribly optimistic, but I hope that the two Cole was traveling with decide to do the right thing and start talking.

 

[BloodHoundSleuther]

If the information posted on the FCT page is correct (i.e., Cole was captured on video at a shop in Mt. Olive at 11:30 PM on Thursday, while Cole was found to be missing at 3 AM on Friday), and it takes only 35 to 40 minutes to get to Benson from Mt. Olive, I suspect that the two traveling with Cole harmed him and disposed of his body (hated typing that ) somewhere between those two towns.

As to how Cole ended up in NC, it could have gone down like this (=speculation):

1. The two acquaintances of Cole's approach him with a story, telling him that there is an opportunity to make a lot of money buying a large amount of drugs in NC (one of the acquaintances is from NC, so he could have told Cole he found out about it from a contact back home), transporting it back to MN and eventually selling it here.

2. The two also tell Cole they don't have the cash to pay for the drugs upfront, and ask Cole if he could lend them money, perhaps even promising him a larger cut once they sell the drugs. Cole agrees, and decides to go with them maybe because he does not trust them enough to let them drive all the way to NC with his money, especially if he had met them only two weeks prior to the trip. It's also possible that Cole was not getting paid until the Friday after Thanksgiving, and needed the pay check deposited into his bank account before he could come up with the funds needed, in which case he would have had to travel to NC with the other two and withdraw money once there (it may be worthwhile to point out that Cole was last seen on camera at 11:30 PM on Thanksgiving Day).

3. Once Cole (i.e., the one with ATM card PIN) produces the cash, his traveling companions have no use for him, so they harm him, getting rid of the body (and possibly the weapon used in the commission of the crime) somewhere between Mt. Olive and Benson.

4. The two men drive to Benson but are spotted by an LE officer while waiting for the dealer to arrive. One of the throws the key to the car out of the window, which lands underneath the car. They might have already come up with the story of Cole bolting out of the car at that point, or they might not have.

5. The deal never takes place, LE does not find drugs on the men, and thus they are let go.

Honestly though, I personally don't believe a word coming out of the mouths of the two, so it would not surprise me at all if there was no drug deal in the first place. Just trying to think what could possibly have prompted Cole to travel to NC with two people he apparently had known just for a couple of weeks. IIRC, Cole never told his family about his trip to NC despite staying in touch with them during the time he would have been on his way there and even telling his aunt he had to work on Friday, so chances are it wasn't like he went there to celebrate Thanksgiving with his new friends/acquaintances; he did not want his loved ones to know about this trip.

Really, whatever he may have been up to, I hope that he is found and soon. I'm not terribly optimistic, but I hope that the two Cole was traveling with decide to do the right thing and start talking.

I agree with you that Cole is somewhere between Mt Olive and Benson. If law enforcement is refusing CUE's help, I'm hoping they'll be more open minded to the idea of Texas Eqqusearch assisting. After all, that is a very large area to search. Also, being that these men were in possession of Cole's keys, phone and coat, I, like you, feel foul play is involved. I just can't see Cole running off without his possessions!

 

[LisaWL7TR]

I believe it is Mt.Olive, not Mt.Holly.

Yes, my bad. I reposted it was an oops from being military and living near mt holly, nj and MT olive, nc and being 4 a.m.ish.

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[BlkMtnGirl]

Ok, I tend to have crazy theories that mostly don't pan out. I have been keeping this one to myself for a variety of reasons. (I've typed it and deleted it for three days.) However, I think it's time to think outside the box, and possibly give this poor family some hope. (I hope not false hope.) What if (complete speculation):
Cole was recruited by some branch of law enforcement to be an undercover officer assigned to bust a major crime/drug ring. (He was the salutatorian, you remember.) His cover is to work as a traveling electrician, switching jobs and cities as the need arises. In this case, he needed to get outta there when they wanted to strip search him. LE knows where he his, but can't divulge that info until the time is right. They're not that interested in having outside help try to find him because that would mess up some ongoing plan.

 

[LisaWL7TR]

Ok, I tend to have crazy theories that mostly don't pan out. I have been keeping this one to myself for a variety of reasons. (I've typed it and deleted it for three days.) However, I think it's time to think outside the box, and possibly give this poor family some hope. (I hope not false hope.) What if (complete speculation):
Cole was recruited by some branch of law enforcement to be an undercover officer assigned to bust a major crime/drug ring. (He was the salutatorian, you remember.) His cover is to work as a traveling electrician, switching jobs and cities as the need arises. In this case, he needed to get outta there when they wanted to strip search him. LE knows where he his, but can't divulge that info until the time is right. They're not that interested in having outside help try to find him because that would mess up some ongoing plan.

Haven't seen you posting in a while BlkMtnGirl and anything is possible...nothing for sure is known yet!



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[BlkMtnGirl]

Updates!!!
New video shows a new last seen location for Cole and one of the acquaintances.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/town...-person-investigation-update/1224646984250163

"Therefore, the last known confirmed location for Cole Thomas is now believed to be the parking lots between First Citizens Bank, First Federal Bank, and BB&T Bank on the 300 block of East Main Street in Benson."

Thanks so much for the map! Can that be added?

And, after speaking with legal counsel, of all things, the Benson Chief of Police issued a statement that the CUE Center for Missing Persons has been free to do whatever search they want all along. Umm, sure.

http://www.mydailyrecord.com/eedition/a-main/2017/01/12/the-search-for-cole-thomas-continues/

 

[LisaWL7TR]

Updates!!!
New video shows a new last seen location for Cole and one of the acquaintances.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/town...-person-investigation-update/1224646984250163

"Therefore, the last known confirmed location for Cole Thomas is now believed to be the parking lots between First Citizens Bank, First Federal Bank, and BB&T Bank on the 300 block of East Main Street in Benson."

Thanks so much for the map! Can that be added?

And, after speaking with legal counsel, of all things, the Benson Chief of Police issued a statement that the CUE Center for Missing Persons has been free to do whatever search they want all along. Umm, sure.

http://www.mydailyrecord.com/eedition/a-main/2017/01/12/the-search-for-cole-thomas-continues/

Great update on Cue!

Bank parking lot? Possibly meeting up or making a withdrawal?

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[DakotaMayi]

Updates!!!
New video shows a new last seen location for Cole and one of the acquaintances.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/town...-person-investigation-update/1224646984250163

"Therefore, the last known confirmed location for Cole Thomas is now believed to be the parking lots between First Citizens Bank, First Federal Bank, and BB&T Bank on the 300 block of East Main Street in Benson."

Thanks so much for the map! Can that be added?

And, after speaking with legal counsel, of all things, the Benson Chief of Police issued a statement that the CUE Center for Missing Persons has been free to do whatever search they want all along. Umm, sure.

http://www.mydailyrecord.com/eedition/a-main/2017/01/12/the-search-for-cole-thomas-continues/

No problem! Sorry, I am not fully caught up, is this as well as North Elm and East Morgan?

 

[BlkMtnGirl]

No problem! Sorry, I am not fully caught up, is this as well as North Elm and East Morgan?

North Elm and East Morgan was where Cole jumped out and ran. Earlier, at 1:10am, he and one acquaintance were seen on video near the banks.

So, my own opinion, sounds like they may have picked up the second guy after that, and things went wrong. So glad for the updated video. It really helps on the timeline. I hope his family finds him today!

 

[BlkMtnGirl]

Hi all who are following this thread. I am Cole's Aunt. [Snipped for clarity] On the night in question, the 2 guys stated that Cole was driving(this is confirmed, he was driving away from store in Mt. Olive), and for some reason became panicked and drove off interstate into Benson, stopped at the intersection of Morgan and Elm St, 1 1/2 blocks from a Police Station, and jumped out and ran off. One story from guy 2, said he followed Cole, they talked for an hour and walked off in different directions., Guy 1 said he stayed in the car and guy 2 came back. A police Officer, walked up to the car and questioned the guys and they told the story of Cole (all mentioned above). Supposedly, the officer and guys searched for Cole, but could not find him. (My opinion?, this is to establish an alibi for the 2 guys, we do not believe Cole was even in Benson). On to the guy's story. They said Cole took off wearing a red shirt, black pants and a black coat. He left his phone and keys to his truck, but took the keys to the blazer with him. Later the keys to the blazer were found under it. Later, it was discovered that guy 1 and 2 went back to MINN, with Cole's phone and keys. when guy 1 came back to NC to be interviewed, a week after Cole went missing, his blazer was searched and Cole's dark green coat was in there. [snipped]

Ra Ra, welcome and thanks so much for your input. We all wish your family the best. If you could take some time to become a Verified Insider here (click on a link for a moderator to begin the process), it would really be awesome. Until then, the rules of our forum (wisely) state that we have to consider what you say a rumor because you could be anybody on the internet, really. (We think you are who you say you are, so feel free to post, but I wanted you to understand how it works here. It keeps this forum from becoming a free-for-all.) I'm excited about CUE coming in to help you. Although we're safely behind our computers, I've seen some amazing work done here on WebSleuths, too.

Anyway, my question for you, is... Is Guy #2 the one whose family lives in NC? Does he know the Benson area? I am focusing on him now, with the info you have relayed, and with the new video. He and Cole were together alone for a long time (longer than an hour it appears?) if any of their stories are to be believed at all.

Edited to add: dang, just realized my newest opinion contradicts my very last post, but I can't edit the old one. I now think Cole and guy #2 did leave guy #1 in the car at the intersection and took off on foot.

 

[rpgman]

ok I'm kinda confused...Ra Ra (welcome btw) states that,... "(My opinion?, this is to establish an alibi for the 2 guys, we do not believe Cole was even in Benson). "

So, was this your opinion prior to the new videos coming out seeing Cole and his co-worker in the parking lot and Cole's parents have stated that that looks like both of them?

 

[LisaWL7TR]

North Elm and East Morgan was where Cole jumped out and ran. Earlier, at 1:10am, he and one acquaintance were seen on video near the banks.

So, my own opinion, sounds like they may have picked up the second guy after that, and things went wrong. So glad for the updated video. It really helps on the timeline. I hope his family finds him today!

I recall 2 different explanations for Cole running off from the individuals who were with Cole.

I personally believe there is a little truth in both explanations.

One was he just jumped out! ...and the second was unclothing and showing he had no wires for whomever?

It seems we will slowly get to the truth and I'm afraid for the news on Cole will not be good.

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[JadeSLeuth]

I recall 2 different explanations for Cole running off from the individuals who were with Cole.

I personally believe there is a little truth in both explanations.

One was he just jumped out! ...and the second was unclothing and showing he had no wires for whomever?

It seems we will slowly get to the truth and I'm afraid for the news on Cole will not be good.

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I think you are likely right about a bit of truth in both. Many lies have some degree of basis in truth. If he jumped out and ran off, he was definitely freaked out by something. I am wrestling with that scenario at the same time though. Jumped out and ran off? I just don't know. I feel like now we know they were spotted near so many banks that maybe Cole was providing some level of funding for the "deal" (if there even was a "deal") and once he provided that funding (and the transportation) his involvement was 'no longer required'. If thats true, these two acquaintances are really stupid since that will can all be sorted out at some point. I am trying to figure out what level of "duped" Cole was by these two - and I feel 90% sure that he was duped. If he jumped out and ran off for basically no reason, he'd have turned up by now IMO.
I hope RaRa comes back.

 

[LisaWL7TR]

I think you are likely right about a bit of truth in both. Many lies have some degree of basis in truth. If he jumped out and ran off, he was definitely freaked out by something. I am wrestling with that scenario at the same time though. Jumped out and ran off? I just don't know. I feel like now we know they were spotted near so many banks that maybe Cole was providing some level of funding for the "deal" (if there even was a "deal") and once he provided that funding (and the transportation) his involvement was 'no longer required'. If thats true, these two acquaintances are really stupid since that will can all be sorted out at some point. I am trying to figure out what level of "duped" Cole was by these two - and I feel 90% sure that he was duped. If he jumped out and ran off for basically no reason, he'd have turned up by now IMO.
I hope RaRa comes back.

As confusing as this is for us, I cant imagine what Cole's family is going through.


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