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

[JerseyGirl]

From Newark Penn Station, his father said police believe his son then caught a train to Penn Station in New York, but they have not yet been able to secure surveillance footage.

His father said he was so desperate to find his son that he was headed Monday night to Penn Station with a friend to try to convince authorities to turn over surveillance images from Oct. 30 to Oct. 31.

"We don't have evidence of Tom at Penn Station, and that's heartbreaking."

The family believes Thomas may have been interested in traveling to California, because the internet history on his laptop shows some research.

Boy who leaves cellphone, takes $1,000 in cash and disappears: I don't want to be found
__

So evidence only finds him at Broad Street Station in Newark and no surveillance at Penn Station New York or Port Authority New York?

 

[JerseyGirl]

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.

I'm familiar with Newark Broad Street Station and there is no way I'd hang around that station in the middle of the night. The City Subway is usually waiting for those who disembark NJ Transit trains which take riders over to Penn Station Newark with a few stops along Broad Street before turning towards McCarter Highway and Penn Station Newark.

They should check surveillance at Penn Station Newark and Port Authority New York City. He could have also grabbed a bus to JFK or LaGuardia or the train to Newark Liberty, but using his ID for a flight would raise a red flag.

 

[zecats]

I'm familiar with Newark Broad Street Station and there is no way I'd hang around that station in the middle of the night. The City Subway is usually waiting for those who disembark NJ Transit trains which take riders over to Penn Station Newark with a few stops along Broad Street before turning towards McCarter Highway and Penn Station Newark.

They should check surveillance at Penn Station Newark and Port Authority New York City. He could have also grabbed a bus to JFK or LaGuardia or the train to Newark Liberty, but using his ID for a flight would raise a red flag.

Yes true. Or even LIRR to Kennedy or LaGuardia. $1000 would run out quickly if he were attempting to fly for sure. IMO At least all those possible stations have beaucoup surveillance.

 

[DizzyB]

Agree on the Penn Newark-especially at that time of night. Not a good place to be. Penn NYC is scary only because it's confusing. It's probably easier at night-not as much train traffic and crowds starting at the big board searching for their track and hustling towards it. Photos of Thomas are supposedly recent, and I would say he looks young for his age. I saw a grainy image somewhere of him, and the backpack was big, but not as big as many hikers' packs I have seen. He has dual citizenship, but left both passports at home.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Thomas rode his bicycle to the Denville train station, where he bought a ticket to Newark Broad Street station. He made the connection to New York Penn Station where he was caught on surveillance camera arriving around 12:02 a.m. Oct. 31.

Missing Mountain Lakes teen left note for parents; coast-to-coast search underway

Looks like he took the last train out of Denville at 10:36pm, stopped at the last stop, Broad Street Station at 11:36pm, got off the train and boarded another train, the last one to NYC at 11:40pm, arriving in Penn Station at 12:04 a.m. (close enough to 12:02am above).

https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/rail/R0040.pdf

I wonder why he didn't take the earlier train at 9:47pm which would allow him to go directly into NYC Penn without changing trains in Newark.

 

[kirkassoc]

I hurriedly clicked on the last page of this alert just hoping Thomas had been found. Hoping and praying he is located and safe.

 

[zencompass]

Dear kirkassoc,

I join you in hoping and praying that Thomas is located quickly and safe and sound.

 

[zecats]

Looks like he took the last train out of Denville at 10:36pm, stopped at the last stop, Broad Street Station at 11:36pm, got off the train and boarded another train, the last one to NYC at 11:40pm, arriving in Penn Station at 12:04 a.m. (close enough to 12:02am above).

https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/rail/R0040.pdf

I wonder why he didn't take the earlier train at 9:47pm which would allow him to go directly into NYC Penn without changing trains in Newark.

What trains would be leaving Penn Station at that time?

 

[JerseyGirl]

What trains would be leaving Penn Station at that time?

Amtrak and NJ Transit do not operate into or out of the city at around midnight or soon after, unless a train is running late. Trains start up again for NJ Transit about 4:00am or 5:00am for the morning commute and Amtrak about 6:00am.

I also checked busses, and they too, such as Greyhound do not operate between midnight and 6:00am:

Wanderu: Search Bus & Train Tickets to 5,000+ cities

 

[Judas]

I read that in an earlier article, too.

His former best friend from Mountain Lakes also moved to CA three years ago. So I don't know where the "he doesn't know anyone in California" is coming from.

 

[MissMYB]

Amtrak and NJ Transit do not operate into or out of the city at around midnight or soon after, unless a train is running late. Trains start up again for NJ Transit about 4:00am or 5:00am for the morning commute and Amtrak about 6:00am.

I also checked busses, and they too, such as Greyhound do not operate between midnight and 6:00am:

Wanderu: Search Bus & Train Tickets to 5,000+ cities

So he would be stuck at the station for several hours? That does not bode well for avoiding nefarious characters looking to take advantage of your runaways. Very scary!

 

[zecats]

Amtrak and NJ Transit do not operate into or out of the city at around midnight or soon after, unless a train is running late. Trains start up again for NJ Transit about 4:00am or 5:00am for the morning commute and Amtrak about 6:00am.

I also checked busses, and they too, such as Greyhound do not operate between midnight and 6:00am:

Wanderu: Search Bus & Train Tickets to 5,000+ cities

Yes that was my point. Sorry. I should've been more clear.
I’ve never taken a train later than maybe 10:30pm or so. But I’ve never seen any much later than maybe midnight. If that late. Even Amtrak. So where could he have gone? Waited around Penn Station for a morning train? Out onto 7th or 8th Avenue in NYC? Subway? Hard to believe he hasn’t been spotted on a camera somewhere.

 

[Darling136]

Was it already posted thst he took some money with him?
Missing 15-year-old took $1K, left cellphone and note saying he didn’t want to be found

 

[JerseyGirl]

Yes that was my point. Sorry. I should've been more clear.
I’ve never taken a train later than maybe 10:30pm or so. But I’ve never seen any much later than maybe midnight. If that late. Even Amtrak. So where could he have gone? Waited around Penn Station for a morning train? Out onto 7th or 8th Avenue in NYC? Subway? Hard to believe he hasn’t been spotted on a camera somewhere.

I believe the article read that he was seen on surveillance at Penn Station New York at 12:02AM (assuming this is when he arrived in NYC).

No one seems to know what happened to him after that, no further surveillance given to the public, but why would he sit around the train or bus station in NYC for 6 hours, why didn't he take a train the next morning - he could have easily slipped right onto a Greyhound bus or begin his journey on a train to the west coast? Doesn't make sense, unless he planned on going with someone else who has a car because I would think a 15 year old boy would look suspicious sleeping overnight at the train or bus stations.

 

[JerseyGirl]

today's article, again mentioning the cousin in California:

The teen went missing Oct. 30, but he was seen taking a train to Newark the same day. He is then believed to have taken a train from Newark to New York. His location after that is unclear, but his family said he has a cousin in California, which may be why he was trying to get there.

New Jersey authorities looking for 15-year-old missing since Oct. 30

 

[bears10]

I believe the article read that he was seen on surveillance at Penn Station New York at 12:02AM (assuming this is when he arrived in NYC).

No one seems to know what happened to him after that, no further surveillance given to the public, but why would he sit around the train or bus station in NYC for 6 hours, why didn't he take a train the next morning - he could have easily slipped right onto a Greyhound bus or begin his journey on a train to the west coast? Doesn't make sense, unless he planned on going with someone else who has a car because I would think a 15 year old boy would look suspicious sleeping overnight at the train or bus stations.

Maybe his parents were asleep and he saw that as an opportunity to leave under the radar. If he waited until morning, he might not have had the opportunity to leave without anyone noticing right away. Pure speculation on my part.

Also, teens aren't always rational. jmo

 

[Really?]

I can’t believe that this kid hasn’t been seen. I’ve never been to penn station that late. How crowded could it be with nothing running? Are any shops open in there at this time? Did he hide in a corner somewhere to sleep?

 

[zecats]

I believe the article read that he was seen on surveillance at Penn Station New York at 12:02AM (assuming this is when he arrived in NYC).

No one seems to know what happened to him after that, no further surveillance given to the public, but why would he sit around the train or bus station in NYC for 6 hours, why didn't he take a train the next morning - he could have easily slipped right onto a Greyhound bus or begin his journey on a train to the west coast? Doesn't make sense, unless he planned on going with someone else who has a car because I would think a 15 year old boy would look suspicious sleeping overnight at the train or bus stations.

Indeed he might. Though in NYC, who knows. There's also the issue of truancy. At fifteen, he's legally required to be in school. Parents are normally held accountable if a child is not, but what happens if child has run away/disappeared by choice?

 

[bears10]

I can’t believe that this kid hasn’t been seen. I’ve never been to penn station that late. How crowded could it be with nothing running? Are any shops open in there at this time? Did he hide in a corner somewhere to sleep?

BBM. This is why I can't believe they waited 3 days to make Thomas' case public. People may have seen him, but didn't have any reason to think anything was amiss. In 3 days he could have gotten across the country already and encountered numerous people along the way.

Also, some things are still running at Penn at that time of night, just not as frequently as they are during the day. For instance the subways are 24/7, some of the LIRR lines depart in the 1 AM hour, etc.

 

[Gunslinging Granny]

Go read his dad's FB page today.