Suffolk police seek help finding 15-year-old Stony Brook student

Suffolk County Police are asking for the public's help locating 15-year-old Thomas Medlin, who left the Stony Brook School on Friday, Jan. 9 at about 3:30 p.m. and was last seen at Grand Central Station in Manhattan at about 5:30 p.m. the same day. The case remains active and investigators are working to confirm his whereabouts.

Medlin is described as white, 5 feet 4 inches tall and about 130 pounds. He was wearing a black jacket with red stripes, dark sweatpants with white stripes, a black backpack and glasses when he was last seen. Anyone with information or potential sightings is asked to contact Fourth Squad Detectives at 631-854-8452 or call 911.

The Stony Brook School is a familiar local landmark for families on the North Shore, and a disappearance involving a student reverberates across classrooms and commuter routes. Grand Central Station is a major transit hub serving hundreds of thousands of riders each day; authorities say the station's busy environment can complicate searches but also increases the chance that commuters, transit workers or station vendors may have relevant information.

For parents and guardians in Suffolk County, the immediate community impact is practical and emotional. Schools will likely tighten check-out procedures and remind families about travel plans and buddy systems. Commuters who travel into Manhattan from Long Island should check rides, platform cameras and any cell phone location history if they think they may have crossed paths with Medlin. Local organizations that work with youth often respond to missing-person alerts by canvassing social media and neighborhood groups; sharing physical descriptions and the detective tip line can help spread accurate information fast.

This case also highlights broader issues that concern local policymakers: the role of transit hubs in missing-person cases, coordination between Suffolk County law enforcement and New York City transit authorities, and support systems for teens traveling between school and the city. Faster information sharing and clear protocols for cross-jurisdictional leads can materially affect outcomes in the first 48 to 72 hours after a disappearance.

The most useful actions residents can take right now are practical: check any photos or videos taken at Grand Central or en route on Jan. 9, review recent messages if you or your teen may have been in contact with Medlin, and call Fourth Squad Detectives at 631-854-8452 with tips. If you see him, call 911 immediately.

The takeaway? Keep an eye on your kids' travel plans, share accurate details with police, and call the detectives with anything that might help locate Thomas. Our two cents? A quick phone call could make all the difference.