A critical piece of surveillance footage released by the New York Police Department on February 1, 2026, has provided the most significant lead yet in the disappearance of 15-year-old Thomas Medlin from Long Island. The grainy but clear video, captured by a fixed traffic camera on the Manhattan Bridge pedestrian walkway, shows Thomas walking alone at 11:47 p.m. on January 18, 2026 — the last confirmed sighting of the Brooklyn high-school sophomore.

In the 38-second clip, Thomas — wearing a dark hoodie, backpack, and jeans — approaches the midpoint of the bridge. He slows, then stops directly beside the railing overlooking the East River. For exactly 22 seconds he stands motionless, hands in pockets, staring downward into the darkness. At the 22-second mark he leans slightly forward, places both hands on the railing, and in one fluid motion climbs over the barrier and vanishes from the frame. The camera angle does not capture the fall itself, but the timestamp, clothing match, and location align precisely with the final ping of his cellphone at 11:48 p.m.

NYPD Harbor Unit and FDNY Marine Division divers resumed intensive searches of the East River immediately after the footage was authenticated. The river’s strong tidal currents, near-freezing water temperatures, and poor visibility have made recovery efforts extremely challenging. Police have not yet recovered a body or additional personal items, but officials say the video “strongly suggests a deliberate act” and have reclassified the case from missing person to presumed drowning.

Thomas left his Park Slope home around 4:30 a.m. on January 15, telling his mother he was going for an early walk to clear his head before school. He never returned. His phone last pinged near the Brooklyn entrance to the Manhattan Bridge at 5:12 a.m. that morning. Initial searches focused on parks, subway stations, and online gaming communities (Thomas was active on Roblox under “TommyM_07”), but the newly released bridge footage has redirected the entire investigation.

Friends and classmates described Thomas as quiet, kind, and deeply involved in gaming, but increasingly withdrawn in the weeks leading up to his disappearance. He had posted vague messages on Discord and Roblox chat about “not fitting in,” “wanting to disappear,” and “everything feeling heavy.” No suicide note has been found, and no formal mental-health treatment history has been reported. His parents have said they saw no obvious warning signs beyond normal teenage moodiness.

The 22-second pause on the bridge has become the focal point of public grief and speculation. Social media is flooded with slowed-down versions of the clip, frame-by-frame analyses of Thomas’s posture, and anguished comments asking what thoughts passed through his mind in those final moments. “He stood there for 22 seconds,” one viral post read. “That’s long enough to change his mind… why didn’t he?” Others have called for immediate installation of higher barriers, better lighting, and mental-health crisis signage on all New York City bridges.

Mayor Eric Adams addressed the footage in a press briefing: “This is a heartbreaking tragedy that reminds us how fragile life can be for our young people. We are expanding suicide-prevention outreach in schools, increasing bridge safety measures, and urging anyone struggling to reach out — you are not alone.”

Thomas’s parents, speaking through a family spokesperson, expressed profound sorrow: “Our son was loved beyond words. We had no idea he was in so much pain. Please hug your children tonight. Check in on your friends. You never know what someone is carrying inside.”

As divers continue searching the East River and investigators comb through Thomas’s digital footprint — including gaming chats, social-media posts, and school records — the 22-second clip has become a haunting national symbol. It is not just evidence of a disappearance; it is a stark, silent record of a teenager’s final, irreversible decision. For a city that has seen too many similar tragedies on its bridges, the question remains agonizingly unanswered: What could have been done in those 22 seconds to change the outcome?

Until divers find closure or new evidence emerges, Thomas Medlin remains missing — but the Manhattan Bridge footage ensures his last moments will never be forgotten.