BENSON, N.C. — A fourth man has been arrested in connection to Cole Thomas’ disappearance seven months ago.

On July 18, law enforcement in Scandia, Minnesota, took Jeremy Brian Carpenter into custody.

He was held in Minnesota for extradition and was returned to North Carolina on July 24.

Carpenter, 42, of Taylor Falls, Minnesota ,has been charged with four counts of felony obstruction of justice and one count of felony concealment of death. He is being held on a $500,000 secure bond.

Julian Valles Jr., Rudolfo DeLeon Jr., and Anthony Ridell James Jr. were arrested on July 17 following indictments issued by a Johnston County grand jury.

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.

James, 26, of Mt. Olive, N.C., was charged with one count of felony obstruction of justice and one count of felony concealment of a death.

DeLeon, 27, of Mt. Olive, was charged with the one count of felony concealment of a death.

According to the Johnston County Clerk of Superior Court Office, James has retained a court appointed attorney but Carpenter, Valles and DeLeon will attain their own attorney.

The next court appearance will be August 7 for an administrative session.

During that session, the court will ensure each one has an attorney and a plea deal may be accepted or a trial will be set into motion.

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.

According to media reports in North Carolina, no body has been found.