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SHOCKING: Mother’s Emotional Plea as New Lead Emerges in Thomas Medlin Case

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“Please Just Tell Us He’s Safe”: Heartbroken Mom Eva Yan Begs for Missing Son Thomas After Roblox Meetup Nightmare in NYC

 

In the gripping, tear-soaked plea that’s gripping the nation, Eva Yan has gone public with a desperate cry for her missing 15-year-old son Thomas Medlin to come home—two agonizing weeks after the bright, talented Long Island teen vanished into the chaos of New York City, reportedly lured there to meet a mysterious “friend” he first connected with on the wildly popular gaming platform Roblox.

The nightmare began on January 9, 2026, when Thomas bolted from Stony Brook School around 3:30 p.m., sprinting to the nearby Long Island Rail Road station in what police describe as an uncharacteristic rush. He boarded a train straight to Manhattan, stepping off at the iconic Grand Central Terminal around 5:30 p.m.—captured forever in haunting surveillance footage showing the bespectacled boy in a black jacket with red stripes, dark sweatpants, backpack slung over one shoulder, clutching a large object as he navigated the bustling crowds. That was the last confirmed sighting. No phone calls. No texts. No goodbyes. Just silence that has stretched into a torturous 14 days.

Eva Yan, his heartbroken mother, sat down for emotional interviews, her voice cracking as she begged the public—and whoever might be holding her son—for answers. “He has never left our side,” she told reporters through sobs. “I just can’t believe why he left in the first place.” She revealed that detectives believe Thomas arranged to meet someone he met through Roblox, the massive online game boasting millions of young users where kids build worlds, chat, and form friendships—sometimes with dangerous strangers. “This is completely out of character for him,” Yan insisted. “Everyone loves him. We just want him to be safe.”

Thomas’s father, James Medlin, echoed the disbelief and pain. “I just can’t believe why he left,” he said, his words heavy with regret and fear. The family describes their son as a shining star: an award-winner in music, arts, and sports, a kid who excelled at school and lit up rooms with his kindness. Neighbors and friends in St. James, Long Island, paint the same picture—a gentle, talented teen who would never just disappear without reason. Yet here they are, organizing daily search parties scouring Long Island parks, Manhattan streets, subway stations, homeless shelters, and anywhere a vulnerable boy might end up.

Police have traced pings and leads placing Thomas in Lower Manhattan near Cherry and Rutgers Streets shortly after Grand Central, then later in Brooklyn around Sands and Jay Streets. Tips have flooded in, but nothing concrete. With a brutal winter storm barreling toward New York—forecast to dump feet of snow and plunge temperatures into dangerous lows—the urgency has skyrocketed. Authorities are racing against time, checking shelters and urging anyone who spots a teen matching Thomas’s description (about 5’8″, slim build, glasses, possibly still in the same outfit) to call Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad Detectives immediately at 631-854-8452.

Mom begs missing son to come home following NYC disappearance — after apparently meeting Roblox connection

The Roblox connection has sent shockwaves far beyond one family. Roblox issued a statement expressing deep concern: “We are deeply troubled by this incident and are working with law enforcement to support their investigation.” The company insists it launched an internal review finding no suspicious activity—no off-platform contact info shared, no attempts to move chats elsewhere, all conversations appearing “typical in-game discussions,” no voice chat used. They emphasize built-in safety tools: filters blocking personal info sharing, no user-to-user images or videos, parental controls to disable chat entirely. Yet critics point to ongoing lawsuits and investigations accusing the platform of prioritizing profits over child protection, with grooming cases repeatedly surfacing in headlines.

This isn’t the first time Roblox has been linked to real-world dangers for kids. Parents nationwide are reeling, wondering how a game marketed as fun and creative could become a gateway for predators. Online safety advocates warn that platforms like Roblox—where millions of children under 13 play daily—can be breeding grounds for manipulation, with groomers building trust through games before suggesting secret meetups. Thomas’s case has reignited furious calls for stricter oversight, age verification, and better monitoring of in-game chats.

As search efforts intensify, Eva Yan’s plea cuts deepest: “Please just tell us he’s safe.” Flyers with Thomas’s photo are plastered across the city; social media shares have gone viral; family and volunteers pound the pavement in freezing conditions, refusing to give up. The fear is palpable—Thomas could be lost, scared, exploited, or worse. Every hour without a sighting tightens the knot in thousands of hearts watching from afar.

New York City, a place of endless possibility, has swallowed a boy who only wanted adventure or friendship. His mother’s voice echoes through the storm: Bring Thomas home. Someone knows something. The clock is ticking, the weather is turning deadly, and a family is shattered, waiting for the miracle that ends this nightmare.

If you have any information on Thomas Medlin’s whereabouts, contact Suffolk County Police at once. A teenager’s life may depend on it

**”A GLIMMER OF LIGHT ON DAY 4. 🚨💪 Maya Gebala is showing the world what it means to fight. Nurses report that she is now trying to initiate her own breaths and is showing pupil response—small signs that mean everything in this critical hour. The family’s message is simple: One breath at a time. They are seeing the progress they’ve been praying for. She isn’t giving up, and neither are we. Stay with us for the full update on Maya’s condition in the first comment.
**”A GLIMMER OF LIGHT ON DAY 4. 🚨💪 Maya Gebala is showing the world what it means to fight. Nurses report that she is now trying to initiate her own breaths and is showing pupil response—small signs that mean everything in this critical hour. The family’s message is simple: One breath at a time. They are seeing the progress they’ve been praying for. She isn’t giving up, and neither are we. Stay with us for the full update on Maya’s condition in the first comment.

Encouraging Signs on Day 4 of Maya Gebala’s Recovery Journey A hopeful update has emerged on Day 4…

“BEYOND THE BROADCAST. 📺💔 As the search for Savannah Guthrie’s family continues, Craig Melvin is proving that friendship goes far deeper than the studio lights. Choosing to step away from the headlines to offer his unwavering support, Craig’s gesture has touched the hearts of millions. In a world of constant noise, his silence speaks volumes. It’s a testament to a bond that refuses to let a colleague walk through the fire alone. We stand with Savannah, and we applaud the kindness that reminds us we are human first, and professionals second. 🕊️
“BEYOND THE BROADCAST. 📺💔 As the search for Savannah Guthrie’s family continues, Craig Melvin is proving that friendship goes far deeper than the studio lights. Choosing to step away from the headlines to offer his unwavering support, Craig’s gesture has touched the hearts of millions. In a world of constant noise, his silence speaks volumes. It’s a testament to a bond that refuses to let a colleague walk through the fire alone. We stand with Savannah, and we applaud the kindness that reminds us we are human first, and professionals second. 🕊️

Craig Melvin Steps Back From Olympic Coverage to Stand With Savannah Guthrie During a Family Crisis, Choosing Presence…

“MORE THAN JUST COLLEAGUES. 📺💔 Putting humanity before the broadcast, Craig Melvin has paused his major career plans to support Savannah Guthrie during her family’s darkest hour. No search for medals, no chasing cameras—just the quiet power of being there. As the agony of the search continues, Craig’s decision serves as a beacon of light, reminding us all that showing up for each other is the most important role we can ever play. True friendship shines brightest in the shadows.
“MORE THAN JUST COLLEAGUES. 📺💔 Putting humanity before the broadcast, Craig Melvin has paused his major career plans to support Savannah Guthrie during her family’s darkest hour. No search for medals, no chasing cameras—just the quiet power of being there. As the agony of the search continues, Craig’s decision serves as a beacon of light, reminding us all that showing up for each other is the most important role we can ever play. True friendship shines brightest in the shadows.

Craig Melvin Steps Back From Olympic Coverage to Stand With Savannah Guthrie During a Family Crisis, Choosing Presence…

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Why Sheriff Chris Nanos ruled out theory Nancy Guthrie’s abduction was burglary gone bad — The One Detail at the Scene That Investigators Say Doesn’t Add Up 🔍 Officials say the evidence left behind tells a very different story than a random break-in. No forced chaos, no rushed exit — just calculated movement. So if it wasn’t a burglary gone wrong… was it something far more deliberate? 👀

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