NY NY - Thomas Medlin, 15, Stony Brook, 9 Jan 2026 *last seen on Manhattan same day*

[investikater]

MOO in that photo he looks likes he's carrying a decently sized object under his right arm.

Like behind the backpack?

 

[investikater]

Absolutely. Could you even imagine how faint that sound would be compared to the ambient noise?

Half of me wants to head to the bridge today with my SPL meter, but the other half is frozen just thinking about it.

That would be awesome! (If you do please take care)

 

[investikater]

Looks like a laptop to me, not a phone.

In his left hand?

 

[investikater]

I might head down to the Manhattan Bridge today to take some video and photos. Is there anything specific people would like footage of?

That would be amazing. If you go please stay safe.

I'd like a better sense of the scale of the fence.

 

[investikater]

Could he have faked a suicide? Just wishful thinking?

 

[SilentHill]

In his left hand?

It's what I think the large object is, most of it is hidden under his jacket/shirt and the end of it is what he's holding and that's why he's grabbing it the way he is, IMO.

 

[borndem]

Welcome to Websleuths,​

shiningonsmiles !!​

 

[borndem]

Any news?

 

[borndem]

...

 

[borndem]

..

 

[warp3dwing]

That would be amazing. If you go please stay safe.

I'd like a better sense of the scale of the fence.

I got some footage with my old iPhone, and I’ll upload it tomorrow morning. Honestly, I was flabbergasted by what I saw.

In the meantime, here’s a comparison of the fence to the top of my hat. I’m a hair over 6’ tall.



And I’m easily able to grasp the top of the railing flat-footed.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

@warp3dwing
- In your opinion, did the fence look easy, moderate, or difficult to climb over?
- Did it look designed to try prevent purposeful climbing? Or only to prevent accidents?
- Is there anything there designed to help prevent suicide, such as the design of the fence, signs with hotlines, or anything else?
- Does it feel like a place he could have climbed without being seen?

 

[investikater]

I got some footage with my old iPhone, and I’ll upload it tomorrow morning. Honestly, I was flabbergasted by what I saw.

In the meantime, here’s a comparison of the fence to the top of my hat. I’m a hair over 6’ tall.

View attachment 641358

And I’m easily able to grasp the top of the railing flat-footed.

View attachment 641359

Thank you so much! That is extremely useful.

 

[investikater]

I got some footage with my old iPhone, and I’ll upload it tomorrow morning. Honestly, I was flabbergasted by what I saw.

In the meantime, here’s a comparison of the fence to the top of my hat. I’m a hair over 6’ tall.

View attachment 641358

And I’m easily able to grasp the top of the railing flat-footed.

View attachment 641359

According to NBC Thomas is 5'4"

"He is about 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds."


Long Island teen missing for more than 2 weeks after taking train into NYC

So you'd be roughly 8 inches taller than him.

 

[iamshadow21]

According to NBC Thomas is 5'4"

"He is about 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds."


Long Island teen missing for more than 2 weeks after taking train into NYC

So you'd be roughly 8 inches taller than him.

But that's a pretty easy to climb fence, even with the angled top. I don't think I could climb it now, at forty four, but at fifteen? Yeah. And I was very much an indoor kid, not athletic.

MOO

 

[warp3dwing]

@warp3dwing
- In your opinion, did the fence look easy, moderate, or difficult to climb over?
- Did it look designed to try prevent purposeful climbing? Or only to prevent accidents?
- Is there anything there designed to help prevent suicide, such as the design of the fence, signs with hotlines, or anything else?
- Does it feel like a place he could have climbed without being seen?

Easy to climb.
Certainly wouldn't stop anyone who wanted to jump from jumping.
There are at least two call boxes and maybe a help sign, but it's all very worn down.
Yes.

 

[warp3dwing]

Here's a short video of Thomas's last known location on the Manhattan Bridge. Sorry for the shaky phone footage, but I think it gives a decent overview of what the pedestrian path is like on the bridge.

 

[anonypotomous]

Here's a short video of Thomas's last known location on the Manhattan Bridge. Sorry for the shaky phone footage, but I think it gives a decent overview of what the pedestrian path is like on the bridge.

Thank you so much! This was really helpful - and how wonderful of you to go out of your way to make this. You're a gem!

 

[warp3dwing]

Thank you so much! This was really helpful - and how wonderful of you to go out of your way to make this. You're a gem!

I'm glad it's helpful! Honestly, it was the first day in nine to reach above freezing, so it was a good way to dispel the cabin fever.