SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The family of a missing Suwannee County man is speaking out after two of the four men charged in the disappearance of Cole Thomas were released from jail.
They say the search for Cole and getting justice has been "stressful" and "frustrating," not just for the family, but for those in the city of Benson, North Carolina. That's where Cole's family has been back and forth since he disappeared in that area just after thanksgiving in 2016.
A Johnston County judge dramatically reduced bond for three of the four men charged with felony concealment of a death, saying Julian Valles, Jr., Rudolfo DeLeon, Jr., and Anthony James, Jr. Have served the same amount of time as they would if they were convicted on those charges.
Bond for Valles was dropped from $500,000 to $50,000 and deleon's bond went from $500,000 to $40,000. Both men were released from jail last week after making the reduced payments.
Cole's aunt Darla Gatewood said the family is "disappointed" but still determined to get answers.
"We're not giving up. The investigation is still going, and we just are still hopeful that we will find Cole and find some answers and then seek some justice. The search will not stop. The searches will go on every other weekend," said Gatewood. "We're still waiting on new evidence. Somebody is going to talk, and something is going to come out -- and we'll be ready."
A fourth man charged in this case, Jeremy Carpenter, did not have his bond reduced. He's due back in court March 5.
As for the other three, their next court date is on Monday, Feb. 5. We'll continue to follow this case and any major developments and bring you the latest.
