Authorities have sadly confirmed that a 15-year-old from Long Island, who disappeared after mentioning plans to meet someone through the online gaming platform Roblox, was discovered deceased in the waters of Brooklyn two months later.
The Suffolk County Police Department reported the recovery of Thomas Medlin’s body on March 7, near Red Hook in Brooklyn. His identity was confirmed by officials on Thursday.
According to police, Medlin departed from the Stony Brook School on January 9, around 3:30 p.m., and headed to the Stony Brook train station. Surveillance last captured him at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan at approximately 5:30 p.m. that evening.
Following his disappearance, Medlin’s family revealed he had traveled to New York City to meet an individual he had connected with via Roblox.
On March 12, Thomas Medlin, aged 15, was identified after being found in the waters off Red Hook, Brooklyn, more than two months after his initial disappearance. (Suffolk County Police Department)
A spokesperson for Roblox previously informed Fox News Digital that safety is a fundamental aspect of the platform, highlighting that it provides parental controls, which include the option to disable in-game chat.
“We are deeply troubled by this incident and are working with law enforcement to support their investigation,” the spokesperson said. “Roblox is built with safety at its core, including robust policies to help protect users that go beyond many other platforms. We have filters designed to block the sharing of personal information and don’t allow user-to-user image or video sharing.”
The company added that “while no system is perfect, our commitment to safety never ends, and we continue to evolve and strengthen our protections every day.”
In this surveillance photo, Thomas Medlin is seen walking in Grand Central Station in New York City around 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 9, police said. (Suffolk County Police Department)
After reviewing Medlin’s social media and online gaming profiles, police determined the platforms were “not connected” to the teen’s disappearance.
Police added there is “no indication of criminal activity.”
Investigators determined through video and digital evidence that Medlin’s last known location was on the pedestrian walkway of the Manhattan Bridge on Jan. 9 at 7:06 p.m., and his cellphone was last active at 7:09 p.m.
Suffolk County Police confirmed on March 12 that Thomas Medlin’s body was recovered in Brooklyn weeks after he went missing. (Suffolk County Police Department)
A splash was captured on surveillance video in the water below at 7:10 p.m., according to investigators. Authorities said Medlin was never seen walking off the bridge.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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