Eight years after the disappearance of Canadian teenager Thomas Brown during Thanksgiving week in 2016, a new chapter in the unresolved case has emerged. Brown’s skeletal remains, discovered in 2019 near Lake Marvin, Texas, have been released from state custody, but his family has filed a lawsuit seeking further forensic testing before burial.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in Potter County District Court, was brought by Brown’s mother, Penny Meek; stepfather, Chris Meek; and brother, Tucker Brown. The legal action targets Brown’s father, Kelly Brown, and a local funeral home. It requests the court grant permission to conduct a forensic examination and DNA testing of Brown’s remains, with documentation by a private investigator.
A Long-Running Mystery
Thomas Brown disappeared the night before Thanksgiving in 2016 in Canadian, Texas. His vehicle, personal belongings, and skeletal remains were found over subsequent years, painting a fragmented picture of his last known moments. The discovery of his remains near Lake Marvin in early 2019, nearly 19 miles east of Canadian, marked a somber milestone in the case but did not resolve questions surrounding his death.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office released its findings in 2021 but was unable to determine a cause or manner of death. The AG’s report noted signs of blunt force trauma to Brown’s skull, though it could not conclude whether the injury occurred before or after death. Other evidence included items belonging to Brown scattered miles apart, trace amounts of his blood and a .25 caliber shell casing in his car, and an online search for a suicide hotline on the night of his disappearance. Despite an extensive investigation, the AG suspended the case in 2019 after finding no viable evidence of foul play. The case remains open, pending new credible leads.
Family Pushes for Private Investigation
Frustrated by the lack of clarity, Brown’s mother, stepfather, and brother hired Klein Investigations & Consulting, a private group led by Phillip Klein. The firm’s findings have occasionally diverged from the AG’s conclusions, particularly regarding the timeline and whether foul play or suicide should be considered. The family is now seeking to verify the official forensic findings with additional tests.
The lawsuit requests permission to have Klein video-record and document a forensic examination of Brown’s remains, focusing on confirming injuries to his skull. Additionally, it seeks a DNA test to ensure the remains are accurately identified as those of Thomas Brown.
Disagreement Among Family Members
The lawsuit underscores a contentious divide within the family. Brown’s father, Kelly Brown, has expressed opposition to further forensic or DNA testing. According to court documents, his attorney argued against what he described as “pilfering” by Klein Investigations. In response, Brown’s mother, stepfather, and brother emphasized in the lawsuit that their intent is not to damage or “destructively test” the remains but to conduct thorough, non-invasive analysis.
Lingering Questions
The case has drawn attention due to its mix of physical and circumstantial evidence, as well as the unexplained gaps in the narrative surrounding Brown’s disappearance. The AG’s findings highlighted contradictions and missing pieces, leaving the family and investigators to grapple with questions that remain unanswered. With the possibility of new forensic insights, the family hopes to find closure and clarity.
Awaiting Court Decision
The lawsuit marks a significant step in the family’s ongoing efforts to seek answers about Thomas Brown’s fate. As the legal proceedings unfold, the question of whether further testing will be allowed could influence the direction of the case, which has gripped the small community of Canadian and beyond for nearly a decade.
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