A tragic chapter in a months-long search ended this week after authorities confirmed Thomas Medlin found dead, bringing painful closure to a case that gripped families and investigators across New York.

Police said the body of the missing Long Island teenager was discovered floating in Brooklyn waters more than two months after he vanished from New York City.

Body Recovered Near Red Hook

Officials with the Suffolk County Police Department announced Thursday that the remains recovered last weekend were positively identified as Thomas Medlin.

The body was pulled from the water Saturday near Red Hook, a waterfront area along the harbor.

Investigators confirmed the identification after forensic examination, ending weeks of uncertainty surrounding the teenager’s disappearance.

Last Moments Captured on Bridge Cameras

The haunting timeline leading to the moment Thomas Medlin found dead was pieced together through surveillance footage.

Authorities previously said the 15-year-old was last seen walking along the pedestrian pathway of the Manhattan Bridge on the night he vanished.

Cameras recorded Medlin crossing the bridge in early January. Moments later, security footage captured what investigators described as a disturbing splash in the East River.

The teen was never seen leaving the bridge walkway.

Timeline of the Disappearance

Police said Medlin first disappeared on the afternoon of January 9 after leaving his private school in Suffolk County without being noticed.

Investigators later determined he boarded a train into Manhattan and arrived at Grand Central Terminal, where security cameras captured his arrival.

From there, the teenager made his way across the city before appearing on the Manhattan Bridge walkway.

According to investigators, surveillance footage shows Medlin on the bridge at 7:06 p.m. His final mobile phone activity occurred at 7:09 p.m., followed by the recorded splash in the river at 7:10 p.m.

Family Fears and Online Lead Investigated

In the early days of the investigation, Medlin’s family feared the teenager might have been the victim of foul play.

Relatives believed he may have traveled into the city to meet someone he had encountered on Roblox, prompting a massive search effort across New York.

The theory fueled an extensive investigation and citywide search operation involving law enforcement and volunteers.

Police Rule Out Criminal Activity

Despite early concerns, authorities later dismissed the online-contact theory after examining available evidence.

Investigators have stated there is no indication that criminal activity played a role in the case.

While the circumstances surrounding the teen’s final moments remain deeply tragic, officials said their investigation has not uncovered evidence suggesting foul play.

For the Medlin family and the community that followed the case closely, confirmation that Thomas Medlin found dead marks a heartbreaking conclusion to a mystery that unfolded across the streets, bridges and waterways of New York.