It’s been seven long years since Cole Thomas went missing, yet there’s still no end to the mystery of what happened to the Florida native. 

His disappearance has been the subject of many true crime podcasts and investigative TV shows, but what really happened to him?

Early Life and disappearance

Cole Thomas, whose real name was Christopher Thomas, was born and raised in Live Oak, Florida. 

After his graduation from Suwannee High School, he received a scholarship to study Sports Medicine at the University of Florida.

However, in December 2015, he took a break from his studies and returned home to Live Oak.

On November 25, 2016, Thomas was reported missing by his coworkers, Jeremy Carpenter and Julian Valles Jr. 

The three of them were traveling from Minnesota to North Carolina for Thanksgiving when they suddenly stopped near North Elm and East Morgan Streets in Benson, North Carolina. 

Carpenter and Valles later reported to the police that Thomas had jumped out of the vehicle and ran away.

Investigation and arrests

After more than a year of Thomas being missing, Carpenter and Valles were arrested.

Anthony James and Rudolfo DeLeon Jr were also taken into custody. 

All four men were arrested and charged with felony concealment of death, while Carpenter, Valles, and James also faced obstruction of justice charges.

At the time of the arrests, Thomas’ family released a statement thanking everyone who had supported them and hoping that it would be the start of finding their son.

However, after serving just eight months in prison, the Superior Court decided to reduce the bonds of Carpenter and James. 

In 2018, Carpenter’s bond was dramatically cut down from $500,000 to $75,000, and he was allowed to move home to his mother’s house in Alabama. 

Meanwhile, James’ bond was reduced even further from $30,000 to $3,000, and he was allowed to reside at a relative’s home in Sampson County.

All charges against the quartet of men were officially dropped in 2019.

Despite the initial arrests, the investigation is ongoing, and the real cause of Thomas’ disappearance remains unknown.

Family’s hope

The entire incident has left Thomas’ family in despair. Even after seven years, they haven’t given up hope that their son is still alive. 

They are constantly seeking information about his whereabouts and run a Facebook group called ‘Find Cole Thomas.’ 

The group has become a platform where updates, positive sentiments, and prayers are shared from people all around the world.

Mysterious disappearance of Cole Thomas has been a subject of fascination for many. 

Although the real cause of his disappearance is still unknown, the efforts of his family to keep his memory alive are commendable. 

The investigation is ongoing, and with each passing day, new information is being gathered. 

Hopefully, one day the mystery surrounding his disappearance would be solved, and his family would finally have some closure.