Three people were arrested late-Monday in the disappearance of Cole Thomas who was last seen alive on November 25, 2016 in Downtown Benson.
Law enforcement officers with the Benson Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Harnett County Sheriff’s Office and NC SBI conducted arrest operations in both Wayne and Harnett counties this afternoon.
Julian Valles Jr., 34, of Dudley, Anthony Ridell James, 26, of Mt. Olive and Rudolfo DeLeon Jr., 27, of Mt. Olive were arrested.
The arrests came after Benson Police and the NC SBI presented their findings to a Johnston County Grand Jury who returned multiple indictments against the suspects.
Valles is charged with 3 felony counts of obstruction of justice and one felony count of concealing a death. He was confined in the Johnston County Jail under a $750,000 bond.
James was charged with one count each of obstruction of justice and concealing a death. He was jailed under a $350,000 bond.
DeLeon was charged with concealment of a death. He was held under a $1 million bond.
There remains many unanswered questions in the case including how Cole Thomas was connected to the three men charged with concealing his death. There was no information released on how the 22 year-old Florida resident may have died. And for his family and friends, where is the missing man.
Based upon the charges, investigators have information not released to the public Thomas is deceased.
In a press release Monday night, Benson Police said no additional information regarding the indictments would be released at this time.
