Those of you asking about the river and crossing the river, you have to understand that most of the time, the "river" there is more like a creek. If my memory is correct, things had been dry when Thomas disappeared, and the "river" in that area would have been just a few inches depth at the most. For example, here is a view of the same river a few miles away near the old wagon bridge where Thomas and his friends hung out some that night. (The old bridge has been restored into a really lovely place people regularly use as a daily walking path or hangout.) I have been here many times, and there are times there is even less water than you can see here. At times it can be considerably more, but most of the time, there's barely enough water in which to wade. The area along the Canadian River can still be dangerous in places and certain seasons after heavy rainfall, as there is dense underbrush and some quicksand-like areas. In the area of the river east of the water treatment place where Thomas's truck was found, I'm not sure the exact spot the dogs hit on, but there is an area where a road is quite close to the river, so I wonder if the dogs were picking up on scent left there when Thomas was transported by vehicle along that road.
Google Maps
Regarding Thomas's ex-girlfriend, I seem to recall Penny mentioning that she was aware of what was in the texting exchange between Thomas and his ex that night. I believe the girlfriend had shared this with her, and Penny said she was not involved or suspected of anything wrong. I do wonder if Thomas shared something and let her know that something was happening. If it is relevant to the case, LE or the family might be keeping details of that private.
Regarding the friends with him that night, Penny has also said things indicating they are not suspects. Wasn't there video footage from the junior high verifying their story about getting in separate vehicles there and saying goodbye? The high school football field near where his phone last pinged was several blocks south of there, and both were pretty near Thomas's house. Additionally, it's possible that Thomas was taken by vehicle near the football field without actually being there. We don't know how precise the cell phone signal ping is near that location. As to Thomas's friends with him that night...all accounts seem to indicate they are in the clear; however, the male friend with him that night is the son of a wealthy and prominent state politician, so that might have complicated investigative efforts, with involved parties wanting to keep things private and keep their names out of it.
Another thought...one of the sightings of his truck during the night before it was taken and left north of town was when it turned onto the road that goes right by the hospital. I found that curious and wondered if someone considered taking a wounded or dead Thomas to the hospital before deciding against it. It is also easy to see if you look at the previously posted map with times and locations marked on it that the vehicle could easily have taken a route that passed by or stopped at the sheriff's office.
I share the common suspicions that LE was somehow involved in or assisted in covering up whatever did happen that night. For one thing, at that time of night, there just aren't many people in Canadian TX out on the roads, but LE would have been out occasionally making rounds to make sure everything was in order. Anyone else out on the roads really stands out and is easily spotted. I did wonder if someone might have accidentally hit Thomas with a vehicle while drunk/under the influence, etc. but in that case, there should have been evidence at the scene...one would think. Suppose someone prominent or LE accidentally struck him near the gas station, then panicked and wanted to avoid prosecution for manslaughter, etc... This seems a less likely scenario at this point, since his death is being ruled a homicide, but something like that could have been a catalyst to more sinister choices to follow.
