Thomas resided in an apartment complex in the 1300 block of northwest Ninth Avenue in Amarillo, Texas. He was last seen on October 26, 1998. He reportedly filled his bicycle tires with air and began riding around the neighborhood, possibly intending to get a snack. Thomas has never been heard from again. His aqua bicycle was similar in fashion to a girls' bike. It was outfitted with very small white tires and rims, white handlebars, a black seat, a chrome-colored connection pole extending from the seat to the frame, and a rusty chain. The words "Free Style" were imprinted on one side of the bicycle. It disappeared with Thomas and has never been recovered.

The circumstances surrounding Thomas's disappearance are unclear. He was reported as a missing child after more than 24 hours had elapsed since his disappearance. Authorities have been unable to determine if he was abducted or if other factors were involved in his case. Thomas was one of the children who discovered the body of Gloria Ann Covington in August of 1997, more than one year prior to his disappearance. Thomas was playing in Hilltop Park in Amarillo with friends when they came across Covington's remains behind the YMCA building. She had been stabbed to death.

Covington's friend witnessed her murder and was assaulted herself during the crime. She said that Covington was attacked inside a light-colored pickup truck before her murder. Linda Gayle Jackson was killed one month after Covington's death. Witnesses reported that she entered a vehicle similar to the truck involved in Covington's case. Both women's homicides remain unsolved.

A friend of the victims was beaten by an unidentified Caucasian man in September 1998. She said her attacker had red hair pulled in a ponytail, blue eyes and a moustache. The victim stopped at Thomas's mother's residence for assistance after the incident. She said that Thomas was home at the time and was seen by the suspect. The victim claimed that the assailant threatened to harm her again in the future. She believes that the individual may have been involved in Thomas's case. A sketch of the man is posted below this case summary.

Authorities have been unable to determine if Thomas's disappearance is related to the unsolved murders. Several of Thomas's relatives initially believed a family friend took him to Dallas, Texas after he disappeared. The individual called authorities shortly thereafter and was not involved in Thomas's case. Extensive searches of the Amarillo area produced no clues as to his whereabouts. A possible lead was developed in Thomas's case in 2006, when his DNA was tested against that of an unidentified teenage homicide victims whose remains were found in Lubbock, Texas in 2005. The teenager was not Thomas and remains unidentified.

Thomas is described as a streetwise boy who knew his way around the neighborhood. Foul play is suspected in his case. Some agencies state that he disappeared near his grandmother's residence.

Above: Sketch of possible assailant