Bond reduced for one suspect in Cole Thomas case
Published 1:00 pm Tuesday, January 16, 2018
- Julian Valles Jr.
SMITHFIELD, N.C. — The bond was lowered for one suspect in Cole Thomas’ disappearance and denied for another during an administrative hearing last week.
The bond for Rudolfo DeLeon Jr., 27, of Mt. Olive, N.C., was reduced from a $750,000 secure bond to $500,000 during the hearing in North Carolina Superior Court on Jan. 10.
DeLeon has been charged with one count of felony concealment of a death.
According to the Johnston County Office of Clerk of Superior Court, his next hearing is set for Monday so the court will have time to investigate the pretrial release program requirements for Wayne County where DeLeon resides.
Anthony Ridell James Jr., 26, also from Mt. Olive, was charged with one count of felony obstruction of justice and one count of felony concealment of a death.
His bond reduction request was denied. His bond remains at $200,000.
James’ next court appearance will also be Monday.
Jeremy Brian Carpenter, 42, of Taylor Falls, Minn., has been charged with four counts of felony obstruction of justice and one count of felony concealment of death.
Carpenter’s attorney requested the hearing to be continued until March 5.
Julian Valles Jr., did not appear in court due to his attorney withdrawing from the case and being appointed a new attorney.
Valles, 34, of Dudley, N.C., has been charged with three counts of felony obstruction of justice and one count of felony concealment of a death.
Thomas, a Live Oak native and Suwannee High graduate, was reported missing on Nov. 25, 2016, by two acquaintances that he had traveled to North Carolina with from Minnesota, where he was working.
They told police they were traveling on Interstate 40, heading to Durham, and got off the interstate in Benson.
As they were driving through a residential area, the driver, Thomas, suddenly stopped his vehicle, jumped out and ran away, the report states.
The passengers tried to find him, but were unable to. At 3 a.m. they reported Thomas missing, the report states.
He was 22 years old when he disappeared.
A body has not yet been found.
