Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office released a joint statement with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, in which the investigation into the disappearance of Thomas Brown was declared suspended.
According to Paxton’s Office, after months of investigation into the 2016 disappearance of Canadian teenager Thomas Brown, officials concluded that “there is no viable evidence that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that foul play led to the death of Thomas Kelly Brown.” The statement went on to say the lack of “viable evidence” was related to “manner of death, cause of death, or evidence of a specific suspect.”
At the conclusion of the statement, the investigation was declared suspended.
“Investigators have exhausted all resources available and have spent thousands of hours dedicated to Thomas Brown,” the statement read. “Several additional agencies and hundreds of individual citizens have also assisted in this case. Therefore, this investigation has been suspended pending any newly discovered credible evidence.”
To the read the full statement, see below.
“This joint statement is regarding the investigation into the disappearance of Thomas Kelly Brown. The Office of the Attorney General, FBI, and the Texas Rangers briefed the 31st District Attorney’s Office on the findings of this case, and all parties concur with the investigative findings. Specific details have been withheld for the integrity of the case and the dignity of the family.
On November 23, 2016, Thomas Kelly Brown was last seen in Canadian, Texas, at approximately 11:30 p.m. by several of Thomas’s friends. Thomas was reported to have missed his curfew and was subsequently reported missing. The Hemphill County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report, and an attempt to locate Thomas was initiated.
This investigation has been a collaborative effort between the Hemphill County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Attorney General’s Criminal Investigations Division, the Texas Rangers, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Throughout the investigation, evidence has been discovered and obtained by various agencies and thoroughly analyzed. There is no viable evidence that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that foul play led to the death of Thomas Kelly Brown. This includes evidence related to manner of death, cause of death, or evidence of a specific suspect.
Investigators have exhausted all resources available and have spent thousands of hours dedicated to Thomas Brown. Several additional agencies and hundreds of individual citizens have also assisted in this case. Therefore, this investigation has been suspended pending any newly discovered credible evidence.”
