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All four men served some time, but eventually the concealment and obstruction charges against T.J.,
Anthony James Jr., and Rudy, Rodolfo De Leon Jr., Julian Vaez Jr., and Jeremy Carpenter,
they all end up getting dropped. According to Chief Percy, this was done at least in part to avoid compromising
any potential future homicide prosecution. Now, we tried reaching out to everyone named in this episode, every
which way we could think of, >> [music] >> but as of this recording, we haven't heard back.
Julian Vaez Jr. is currently behind bars on drug charges unrelated to Cole's case. Still, we sent him a message. So
far, no response. And unfortunately, we will never be able to talk to Jeremy Carpenter. Per an online obituary, he
passed away in 2024. Now, some people believe that Jeremy may have been in the same boat as Cole, that
he was just as surprised by the turn that things took, and that everything he did that night, his silence and the
evolving stories that followed were out of both fear and survival. But it means that we will never be able
to ask him the one question we have for everyone in this case. Where's Cole? Because when it comes to that detail,
the part that matters most, everyone conveniently claims they just don't know, that whatever happened next
happened in secret. [music]

Years after Christopher “Cole” Thomas disappeared in North Carolina, the men connected to the case faced charges tied to concealment and obstruction. Those charges were eventually dropped.

Over time, stories shifted, key witnesses stayed silent, and one of the men connected to the case later passed away. But despite years of investigation, the central question has never been answered: what happened to Cole Thomas?

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Brief Summary

Charges against key figures in Cole's case were dropped, raising questions about the truth behind his disappearance.

Key points

Charges Dropped. All charges against T.J., Anthony, and others were eventually dropped to protect future prosecutions.
Jeremy Carpenter's Passing. Jeremy Carpenter passed away in 2024, leaving unanswered questions about the case.
The Unanswered Question. The key question remains: Where's Cole?

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

Everything he did that night was out of both fear and survival.

Reflection on Jeremy's actions during the incident.

0:58WatchMay 22, 2026

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