Found Safe NJ - Thomas Kolding, 15, Mountain Lakes, 30 Oct 2018

[Judas]

This article has now been updated to make it very sure that we all know that he took his own money with him. Also, that he and his dad had an argument over grades and that the note he left says he doesn't want to be found:

Missing Mountain Lakes teen left cellphone behind, took $1,000 in cash when he left home

 

[bears10]

This article has now been updated to make it very sure that we all know that he took his own money with him. Also, that he and his dad had an argument over grades and that the note he left says he doesn't want to be found:

Missing Mountain Lakes teen left cellphone behind, took $1,000 in cash when he left home

From the link...

Thomas' disappearance was made public on Friday, three days after he was last seen at his family's home.

He could have gotten pretty far in 3 days. Not criticizing, but I’m just surprised that this wasn’t public for days. Maybe the family was hoping he’d come home in a day or two and wanted to keep it a private matter.

Anyway, the link also quotes the dad talking about Thomas being an experienced traveler, so that’s a positive.

 

[DizzyB]

Some people have a stash of “just in case” emergency cash, and a teen might just happen to know where that cash is. He attempted to register for an Amtrak account but there is no record of a ticket purchased. His intention was to leave no digital footprint, and he indicated that he had been planning this for some time. He may have had to switch to another form of transportation as ID is required for Amtrak long distance trains and his passports had been left behind. Penn Station is tough enough for an adult to navigate.

 

[Gardener1850]

From the link...
He could have gotten pretty far in 3 days. Not criticizing, but I’m just surprised that this wasn’t public for days. Maybe the family was hoping he’d come home in a day or two and wanted to keep it a private matter.

Anyway, the link also quotes the dad talking about Thomas being an experienced traveler, so that’s a positive.

BBM. Hopefully that means he is smart enough to not flash his cash when making purchases or paying for rides, but I'm worried this kid might look like an easy target to someone with bad intentions, especially if he reveals how much money he has on him... It's one thing to be an "experienced traveler" as a kid in the safety net of your family who is always right there or only picks you up and drops you off at an airport or a train... It's a whole different world out on the streets and trying to travel via hitchhiking (or something else) if the Amtrak train didn't work out. JMO.

ETA: At 15, do we know if he knows how to drive yet?

 

[bears10]

BBM. Hopefully that means he is smart enough to not flash his cash when making purchases or paying for rides, but I'm worried this kid might look like an easy target to someone with bad intentions, especially if he reveals how much money he has on him... It's one thing to be an "experienced traveler" as a kid in the safety net of your family who is always right there or only picks you up and drops you off at an airport or a train... It's a whole different world out on the streets and trying to travel via hitchhiking (or something else) if the Amtrak train didn't work out. JMO.

ETA: At 15, do we know if he knows how to drive yet?

I agree that he could very well be considered an easy target by someone with bad intentions.

In NJ you can get your permit when you turn 16 and license at 17. So if he knows how to drive, it’s unofficial.

 

[chaddylex]

I saw this boy's missing persons flyer on FB - I have a 15 year old son myself. We are frequent travelers but I could never see him just up and leave especially without his phone. It's a scary world out there. I hope he is safe.

 

[JerseyGirl]

The high school freshman left behind his cell phone, his laptop, and took about $1,000 from savings.

“He knew how to turn lawn mowing money, he invested it. He was a pretty savvy stock investor so he was a really bright kid.”

Thomas’ father says the boy’s disappearance is completely uncharacteristic.

“We talked to his best friends, looked them right in the eye, they’re just as shocked as we are. They can’t figure it out.”

Thomas did leave behind one clue.

“There’s a letter he wrote to a girl he’s very good friends with that basically said I need to go see the world and I’ll be back one day,” his father said.

New Jersey Teen’s Disappearance A Mystery, Father Heartbroken

The father says his son always wanted to go to California, even though he doesn’t know anyone there. Detectives are talking to police on the west coast and keeping an eye on Thomas’ social media pages.

 

[JerseyGirl]

“The argument about his grades may have been the trigger. I was trying to motivate him and get him to live up to his potential,” his father said.

Left in his room was a handwritten note which informed his parents that he didn’t want to be found.

His father said that Thomas is an avid traveller after he was encouraged to be independent from an early age. Earlier this year, the family allowed Thomas to return from Norway to the US by himself.

Missing boy leaves crushing note before running away after argument with parents

 

[CTPDMom]

I can only imagine how frantic I'd be if my own honor student, independent kiddo took off like this. The positive side, if there is one, is this isn't a sheltered kid in terms of travel. He knows how to get around. Hopefully he's savvy enough to remain safe, and that he's located soon.

 

[zecats]

I can only imagine how frantic I'd be if my own honor student, independent kiddo took off like this. The positive side, if there is one, is this isn't a sheltered kid in terms of travel. He knows how to get around. Hopefully he's savvy enough to remain safe, and that he's located soon.

Exactly this. You make a good tw0-sided point. Living along the Northeast Corridor and close to transit stations enables folks in these parts, even kids, to become comfortable with travel. My own grandkids, (7, 5 and 1 1/2) travel on LIRR, NJ Transit and PATH frequently enough (with parents of course) that they don't blink an eye about it. It's an easy way to get around. And Penn Station is not really that scary of a place. There are businesses there and normally many passengers of LIRR, Transit and Amtrak.
I do worry that perhaps his perceived comfortability with travel may hinder his naivety about seeking a new life in California (and getting there) at his young age.
Maybe he'll figure it out himself and return home on his own. Hope so. jmo

 

[JerseyGirl]

I wonder why he went all the way into Penn Station in NYC to grab a train or bus to the west coast. He could have easily done so in Newark and just walk or take the city subway from Broad Street Station to Penn Station, Newark where he could have access to Greyhound buses and the Northeast Corridor Amtrak.

 

[bears10]

The high school freshman left behind his cell phone, his laptop, and took about $1,000 from savings.

“He knew how to turn lawn mowing money, he invested it. He was a pretty savvy stock investor so he was a really bright kid.”

Thomas’ father says the boy’s disappearance is completely uncharacteristic.

“We talked to his best friends, looked them right in the eye, they’re just as shocked as we are. They can’t figure it out.”

Thomas did leave behind one clue.

“There’s a letter he wrote to a girl he’s very good friends with that basically said I need to go see the world and I’ll be back one day,” his father said.

New Jersey Teen’s Disappearance A Mystery, Father Heartbroken

The father says his son always wanted to go to California, even though he doesn’t know anyone there. Detectives are talking to police on the west coast and keeping an eye on Thomas’ social media pages.

I thought his cousin lives in California?

 

[JerseyGirl]

I thought his cousin lives in California?

I read that in an earlier article, too.

 

[zecats]

I wonder why he went all the way into Penn Station in NYC to grab a train or bus to the west coast. He could have easily done so in Newark and just walk or take the city subway from Broad Street Station to Penn Station, Newark where he could have access to Greyhound buses and the Northeast Corridor Amtrak.

Amtrak stops in Newark Penn, that's true. Good point. So does PATH to lower Manhattan.
Maybe he wanted more options that NYC offers. Grand Central Station would offer him Metro North, though that's def not the best route to the West Coast. Wanting to see the world perhaps means an indirect route to wherever he thought his final destination might be.
Or, being so late (didn't he arrive at Penn Station NYC around midnight?) Who wants to travel a subway in Newark, NJ at that hour. imo

 

[bears10]

I wonder why he went all the way into Penn Station in NYC to grab a train or bus to the west coast. He could have easily done so in Newark and just walk or take the city subway from Broad Street Station to Penn Station, Newark where he could have access to Greyhound buses and the Northeast Corridor Amtrak.

Good question. Maybe there weren't any buses or trains leaving from Newark when he wanted to leave?

 

[JerseyGirl]

Amtrak stops in Newark Penn, that's true. Good point. So does PATH to lower Manhattan.
Maybe he wanted more options that NYC offers. Grand Central Station would offer him Metro North, though that's def not the best route to the West Coast. Wanting to see the world perhaps means an indirect route to wherever he thought his final destination might be.
Or, being so late (didn't he arrive at Penn Station NYC around midnight?) Who wants to travel a subway in Newark, NJ at that hour. imo

The Newark City Subway is above ground. New trains, not anywhere near run down compared to NYC Subways.

If he took a bus or train to begin his west coast trip, he could easily get the same connection in Newark, which is closer to his home. The same Amtrak trains stop in Newark Penn Station as they do New York Penn Station.

Greyhound and other buses are also available in Newark Penn Station as they are at Port Authority Bus Station NYC (which he wasn't seen in, correct?)

I only see him going to New York Penn Station if he wanted to head to points north, such as Connecticut, Boston, or further north, such as Canada.

 

[bears10]

Amtrak stops in Newark Penn, that's true. Good point. So does PATH to lower Manhattan.
Maybe he wanted more options that NYC offers. Grand Central Station would offer him Metro North, though that's def not the best route to the West Coast. Wanting to see the world perhaps means an indirect route to wherever he thought his final destination might be.
Or, being so late (didn't he arrive at Penn Station NYC around midnight?) Who wants to travel a subway in Newark, NJ at that hour. imo

BBM. If he plans on traveling the country, it's likely he will experience far sketchier people/places than Newark.

 

[bears10]

Any word on his passport? I wonder if he took it with him.

 

[zecats]

The Newark City Subway is above ground. New trains, not anywhere near run down compared to NYC Subways.

If he took a bus or train to begin his west coast trip, he could easily get the same connection in Newark, which is closer to his home. The same Amtrak trains stop in Newark Penn Station as they do New York Penn Station.

Greyhound and other buses are also available in Newark Penn Station as they are at Port Authority Bus Station NYC (which he wasn't seen in, correct?)

I only see him going to New York Penn Station if he wanted to head to points north, such as Connecticut, Boston, or further north, such as Canada.

Agreed. I've only been to Newark Penn on NJ Transit and PATH. Never to Newark Broad so not familiar. Always wondered about it. Thanks for heads-up.

OT I never mind riding NYC subways. My kids live and work in Manhattan/Brooklyn area.

 

[zecats]

BBM. If he plans on traveling the country, it's likely he will experience far sketchier people/places than Newark.

Not all so bad. Newark Penn Station is a hub for NJ Transit and PATH. Hubby and I have gotten off there and walked to the theater in town. And he has attended workshops there as well. I was curious about using the connecting subway because I was thinking it might be underground and less used later at night. Hoping and believing this young man knew what he was doing.