The Story Behind The Road Trip... #truecrimeshorts #truecrimestories #crimejunkies #podcast | Forensic Files

What Steven says next is far from reassuring. He wasn't on this getaway with these
guys, but he sure seems to know a thing or two about it because he starts rambling on something about a strip
search, about Cole freaking out, and then he says something that stops Chris cold.
I think they killed him. They who? That is exactly what Chris is trying to figure out. He is asking all
of the questions. Like, a strip search for what? Why was he freaking out? Who are you talking about? And that's when
Steven starts filling in some of the blanks. He tells him that the guys Cole was traveling with, Julian and Jeremy,
they weren't [music] just passing through North Carolina for Thanksgiving. They had driven there all the way from
Minnesota to buy drugs. And he says they went to meet up with some like very dangerous dudes, and
afterwards something must have gone wrong. >> [music] >> And this is like the foundation shaking
for Cole's parents. Like, this is never the kind of story they would ever [music] expect to be hearing involving
their son. I mean, obviously you never really know who might be struggling with substance use or fall into a lifestyle
of dealing, whatever, but Cole, like this was never something they ever had to worry about with him before.

As Christopher “Cole” Thomas’ family searched for answers after his 2016 disappearance, they received information that changed how they viewed the case.

A man named Stephen told Cole’s father that the trip to North Carolina may not have been about Thanksgiving at all. According to Steven, the group had traveled from Minnesota for a drug deal, and something allegedly went wrong afterward.

Investigators later uncovered evidence supporting parts of the claim, including information that the group had traveled to the area connected to a planned drug transaction.

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Brief Summary

Cole's trip leads to shocking revelations about drugs and danger.

Key points

The Shocking Truth. Steven reveals a dark possibility about Cole's fate, leaving Chris in disbelief.

Episode highlights

The Shocking TruthSteven reveals a dark possibility about Cole's fate, leaving Chris in disbelief.“I think they killed him.”0:19May 24, 2026

Episode quotes

I think they killed him.

A shocking revelation that halts Chris cold.

0:19WatchMay 24, 2026

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