Long Island Boy Two Months Later Thomas MedlinThe 15-year-old disappeared from his New York home and was found dead in a Brooklyn waterway, police said. Medlin, St. James, a small village in Suffolk County, He disappeared after traveling to Manhattan from his home long islandJanuary 9, New York.
Medlin’s mother initially said the teen left to meet someone he met online through the online gaming platform Roblox, People reported.
Days after Medlin disappeared, Suffolk County police shared a worrying update, saying surveillance footage captured him pacing the Manhattan Bridge, but not long after, cameras recorded an ominous splash in the East River. Police noted in a Jan. 18 update that the video did not show the teen leaving the bridge.
The Suffolk County Police Department announced that Medlin’s body was found in the water near Red Hook, Brooklyn, on March 7.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also announced the tragic news in a statement. Facebook postwhich reads: “We are heartbroken by the tragic passing of 15-year-old Thomas Medlin, who has been missing since January 9, 2026. Thank you to everyone who shared his poster and story. Our thoughts are with Thomas’ family, the City of Stony Brook, New York, the community, and all who are grieving.”
Is Thomas Medlin’s disappearance and death related to Roblox?
Police reviewed Medlin’s social media and online gaming profiles and determined those platforms were “unrelated” to the teen’s disappearance. Police rule out any connection between the two Roblox and Medlin’s disappearance. They also said there was “no indication of criminal activity”.
A Roblox spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that the platform was “built with security at its core.” They added that it offers parental controls that allow parents to disable in-game chat.
Learn more | Thomas Medlin Update: Police share details about missing Long Island teen who ‘splashed into water…’
“We are deeply disturbed by this incident and are working with law enforcement to support their investigation,” a spokesperson said. “Roblox is built with security at its core and includes strong policies that go beyond many other platforms to help protect users. Our filters are designed to block the sharing of personal information and do not allow the sharing of images or videos between users.”
The company further said, “While no system is perfect, our commitment to security never ends and we continue to evolve and strengthen our protective measures every day.”
