Benson Mayor William Massengill Jr. has met with the parents of a man reported missing to Benson Police more than a month ago.
On Wednesday, Massengill met with the parents of Christopher “Cole” Thomas who disappeared the day after Thanksgiving. The 22 year-old man hasn’t been seen since.
“As the father of two young adults near Cole’s age, I cannot begin to comprehend what the Thomas family is going through,” Mayor Massengill said. “My heart goes out to them.”
“We are requesting the public’s continued assistance in locating him. I am asking all Benson area residents to search your personal property, farm and structures for anything suspicious. Furthermore, I would ask that you to stop and share this question with others: “Have you looked for Cole?”
A reward is being offered for information leading to Cole’s location.
According to two friends traveling with the missing Live Oak, Florida man, around 3:00am on November 25th, Thomas and his friends were traveling on I-40 towards Durham when they exited off the interstate and traveled into Benson.
As the men were traveling through a residential area, Thomas suddenly stopped the car, jumped out and ran away. His two friends attempted to find him but could not so they called police.
Police Captain Greg Percy said extensive efforts have been made by officers to locate Thomas but there have not been any sightings since his disappearance near North Elm and East Morgan Streets.
Thomas, who worked as an electrician most recently in Minnesota, was in North Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with a co-worker in Durham. Police said he has not contacted any of his friends, his employer, or family members during the past month.
Thomas is described as a 22 year-old white male, 6 foot 1, 230 pounds, with brown/blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt, black pants, and a black Carhartt jacket.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Christopher Cole Thomas is asked to contact Benson Police at 919-894-2091 or email tips to crimeline@bensonpd.org.
