Christopher Cole Thomas

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 8:30 am

Missing: November 25, 2016

Benson, N.C. — Cole Thomas' face is on signs everywhere in Benson, but he is nowhere to be found.
The 22-year-old from Live Oak, Fla., has been missing since Nov. 25, when two acquaintances said he pulled off Interstate 95 while driving home from a job in Minnesota hopped out of the car near North Elm and East Morgan streets in Benson and vanished.
"I have no earthly idea," Chris Thomas said Monday when asked why his son would have been in Benson. "He rode with two guys here to have Thanksgiving dinner."
Thomas said he last heard from his son on Nov. 24 in a text that said "Happy Thanksgiving. I love you."
He has been in Benson ever since, searching for his son.
"I’m going to find my son, and I want answers to wherever my son is. He supposedly vanished. If he vanished, where is he at?" he said. "I wake up every morning hoping I hear from him or hoping I have an answer, and I have not had anything.
According to search warrants released last month, the two men with Cole Thomas told investigators they were in North Carolina to buy methamphetamine. After the deal, they said, he became paranoid and began driving erratically before stopping the car and running off.
A $10,000 reward has been offered for information about Cole Thomas' whereabouts.
He is described as about 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 230 pounds, with light brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt and black jacket.
Anyone with information is asked to call Benson Police Chief Kenneth Edwards or Capt. Greg Percy at 919-894-2091 or the State Bureau of Investigation’s Raleigh office at 919-779-8188 or 800-334-3000 after business hours. Source: WRAL

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 8:36 am

Search ongoing for Florida man reported missing in Benson

It’s been 46 days since Christopher Cole Thomas was reported missing in Benson, and town police and the State Bureau of Investigation have spent more than 1,500 man hours searching for him.
About 27 separate searches have been conducted so far. Law enforcement and volunteers have combed Benson and several other locations on foot, using trained dogs, and in the air using crafts piloted by the SBI and N.C. Highway Patrol.
The 22-year-old Florida man went missing after stopping his car while driving through Benson and running away, people who knew him told police.
At about 3 a.m. Nov. 25, Benson police received a report of a missing person. Two people said they had been traveling with Christopher Cole Thomas on Interstate 40 when he stopped in Benson while en route to Durham. Thomas got out of the car and ran away in a neighborhood at North Elm Street and East Morgan Street, his passengers said. They tried to find him but couldn’t.
Tips have come in from multiple counties and even other states. North Carolina agencies are working across borders to collect information.
The Thomas family, with the CUE Center for Missing Persons, was offering a $10,000 reward for information about Thomas’ whereabouts.
“We and the assisting agencies are committed to finding Christopher Cole Thomas, and our investigation into his disappearance is still very much active,” said Benson Police Chief Kenneth Edwards. “We will continue to conduct interviews, initiate searches and follow all leads until he is reunited with his family.”
Thomas, a white male, stands about 6’1” tall and weighs about 230 pounds. He has brown/blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt, black pants and a black Carhartt jacket, police said.
Thomas was living in Live Oak, Fla., but working in Minnesota and was headed through North Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with a co-worker living in Durham, police said.
If you have any information that might be of assistance, call the Benson Police Department at 919-894-2091. Source: newsobserver

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 8:37 am

Two of the men with Cole Thomas the night he disappeared

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 8:51 am

Rap sheet on Julian Valles Jr.

Christopher Cole Thomas 13962610

Current Picture as of Aug. 2016

Christopher Cole Thomas Julian10

History of Arrests in Florida (Polk County)

Christopher Cole Thomas Julian14

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 8:54 am

Conversation Julian was having with either a family member or friend

Christopher Cole Thomas 16652010

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 8:56 am

Jeremy Carpenter (2nd man with Cole Thomas)

Christopher Cole Thomas 16684411

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 9:22 am

More than 40 law enforcement officials take part in search for Cole Thomas

More than 40 law enforcement officials conducted another search Tuesday for a 22-year-old man who friends said was last seen in Benson on November 25.
According to search warrants requested by the State Bureau of Investigation for the cell phones of Thomas’ associates, the man had been driving a vehicle with two other people inside in the vicinity of E. Morgan Street and N. Elm Street around 3 a.m. when he was said to have jumped out and ran.
Thomas’ father, Christopher Thomas, told authorities that, according to his son’s friend, Cole Thomas had traveled from Minnesota to North Carolina with the two friends who were later found inside the vehicle that was abandoned in Benson.
The friend told Christopher Thomas that he had been dropped off at an airport in Minnesota so that he could fly home to be with his son and that Cole Thomas then drove to North Carolina. The friend told Christopher Thomas that the three men were headed to North Carolina to “do a big drug deal.”
According to warrants, the man further explained to Christopher Thomas that once the three made it to their destination in North Carolina, “the person they intended to do the drug deal with made them take off their clothes” to prove they weren’t wearing a wire. That caused Cole Thomas to “flip out.” The warrant states that no further information was provided to explain what happened to Cole Thomas next.
Anyone who may have seen Cole Thomas, or who may have information regarding his location, is encouraged to contact Chief Kenneth Edwards or Captain Greg Percy at the Benson Police Department, at 919-894-2091. Information may also be emailed to the Police Department, using crimeline@bensonpd.org. Source: wncn

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 9:25 am

Even after putting in nearly 1,500 hours of work searching for a missing 22-year-old Suwannee County man, the police chief in Benson, North Carolina said law enforcement is committed to finding Cole Thomas.
He said that approximately 27 searches had been made so far in and around Benson as well as other locations.
Edwards said, "Tips and information have been received from multiple NC counties, as well as several other states, and we have contacted the appropriate law enforcement agencies in those locations, and have received investigative assistance from them."
Since the time Cole was reported missing, over 1500 man-hours have been expended on this investigation, by the Benson Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
"We, and the assisting agencies, are committed to finding Christopher Cole Thomas, and our investigation into his disappearance is still very much active," said Edwards. "We will continue to conduct interviews, initiate searches, and follow all leads, until he is reunited with his family." Source: wtxl

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 10:12 am

New Photos Of Missing Man Released

Christopher Cole Thomas Grainy10

Source: http://www.jocoreport.com/2017/01/13/new-photos-of-missing-man-released/

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 10:13 am

by slightlynicked Wed Feb 08, 2017 5:07 pm

Jeremy Bryan Carpenter Mylife page (click link below)

https://www.mylife.com/jeremy-carpenter/jeremybryancarpenter

by Ranger Wed Feb 08, 2017 6:47 pm

by Ranger Thu Feb 09, 2017 8:00 pm

Cole's friend from Florida (who didn't make the trip, but spoke with Cole's dad about what happened....aka "alleged" drug deal)

Steve (steven, stephen) Werley

Steve's arrest history -

Christopher Cole Thomas Sw110

by Ranger Thu Feb 09, 2017 8:17 pm

Benson community plans weekend search for Cole Thomas

A community plans a search this weekend for a missing 22-year-old man in the Benson-area of Johnston County.
People plan to search for Cole Thomas on Saturday after meeting at 8 a.m. at the Benson Singing Grove Park, 400 East Main Street. Source: wncn

by Robert Bickle Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:53 pm

Thought to ponder..did Cole even make it to Benson, NC or just a lie to cover his whereabouts in another state, possibly by death? Anyone could have used his phone IN Benson to type a message home saying HAPPY THANKSGIVING..you've probably figured this out already.
From experience, I know drug dealers ARE great liars. Been around enough addicts to know the lies to cover their own butts and will do just about anything to get that next fix. It's a deadly aftermath for some including the innocent. I was a lucky one- an innocent victim of circumstance.
If Cole's fingerprints are on file or some form of DNA...GREAT..then have it placed into the FBI/SBI data bank since it's national and if his body should be found because of death, it will be available to identify his body, if by death.
I personally believe he never made it to NC yet hoping that I'm wrong.