4th man arrested in connection to Christopher Cole Thomas case

Christopher Cole Thomas was on his way from Minnesota to Florida when he was reported missing on Nov. 25. Friends said he pulled off Interstate 95, got out of the car near North Elm and East Morgan streets in Benson and disappeared.

Authorities identified the man arrested as Jeremy Carpenter. Carpenter was arrested in Minnesota and is being held, pending the extradition process.

He was charged with four counts of obstruction of justice and one count of felony concealment of a death. He was jailed under a $500,000 secured bond.

While Thomas is presumed dead, his body has not been found. His family searches the area for him every two weeks.

"The main thing I'm hopeful for is that one of them will tell us where Cole is and bring him home and justice will be served afterward," said Thomas' aunt, Darla Gatewood.

Authorities were spotted searching at Mingo Swamp on Tuesday, but police would not comment on whether the search is related to the Thomas case.

District Attorney Susan Doyle says the investigation is ongoing and she's not ruling out more charges or arrests.