Suffolk Police Seek Help Locating 15-Year-Old Thomas Medlin, Last Seen Grand Central

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad Detectives requested public assistance on January 20 in locating 15-year-old Thomas Medlin of St. James, who left the Stony Brook School on Friday, January 9 at about 3:30 p.m. Police say Thomas was last seen at Grand Central Station in Manhattan around 5:30 p.m. that evening.

The advisory lists Thomas’s age and physical description - 5'4" and 130 lbs - and notes the clothing he was wearing at the time. Detectives added that Thomas may have traveled to Manhattan’s Hester Street/Chinatown area after arriving in the city. Investigators are asking anyone with information to call 911 or contact Fourth Squad Detectives at 631-854-8452.

The disappearance has immediate relevance for families and commuters in St. James, Stony Brook and neighboring communities. Students and parents who use after-school transit options or who routinely travel between Suffolk County and Manhattan may recognize the routes Thomas could have taken. Local schools, extracurricular programs and transit riders are being asked to check phone logs, ride shares and surveillance footage and to share any relevant information with detectives.

Beyond the logistics of locating a missing teenager, the case highlights broader community and public health concerns. Missing-youth incidents can signal gaps in youth mental health supports, supervision, or safe transit access. Community leaders and school officials often respond to such cases with reminders about available counseling resources and protocols for securing children after school hours. For neighbors and local service providers, the disappearance underscores the importance of coordinated responses between law enforcement, schools, social services and family networks when a young person vanishes.

The Suffolk County Police advisory is intended to mobilize that local network. Detectives are continuing the investigation and are canvassing likely locations and transit hubs. Police did not release additional personal details beyond the physical description and potential Manhattan destinations.

For now, the most practical actions for residents are simple and concrete: check any interactions you or your children may have had with Thomas on January 9, look through home or business surveillance if you were near relevant stations or neighborhoods that evening, and share footage or tips with authorities. Call 911 for immediate information or Fourth Squad Detectives at 631-854-8452 to report possible sightings.

The search for Thomas Medlin remains active, and community cooperation could prove decisive. Neighbors keeping an eye out, transit workers reviewing footage, and concerned parents checking their own children’s devices can all help answer what happened and bring him safely home.