California Father Found Dead Near Levi's Stadium After Super Bowl Disappearance
A 44-year-old father from California, who went missing after attending a Super Bowl Sunday barbecue, has been discovered deceased in a creek behind Levi's Stadium. The incident has sparked a potential homicide investigation, leaving his family in distress and seeking clarity.
Disappearance After Super Bowl Festivities
Thomas Simpkins, a resident of Santa Clara, was last seen on the evening of February 8. He had returned home from a friend's barbecue in South San Jose via an Uber around 9 pm. According to his sister, Brandi Stroud, Simpkins mentioned he planned to relax after watching the big game nearby.
The following day, concerns arose when his 19-year-old son, Tyler, noticed his father failed to report for his shift at a fine-dining restaurant in Palo Alto and did not call in. A missing persons report was promptly filed by the family.
Body Discovered Near Stadium
Nearly a week later, on February 14, authorities located human remains in the San Tomas Aquino Creek, which flows behind Levi's Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers. The stadium had hosted over 70,000 fans for Super Bowl celebrations just days earlier.
Stroud revealed she was unaware of the discovery until a woman contacted her through social media, sharing police scanner audio about the recovery. She later identified her brother at the medical examiner's office through a distinctive tattoo reading "Simpkins" across his shoulder blades.
Police confirmed the body was that of Simpkins. Family members reported that his cellphone and wallet were missing when he was found.
Investigation into Death
The Santa Clara Police Department stated that the cause and manner of death have not yet been determined. The Santa Clara County medical examiner's office confirmed the case remains under active investigation, with further findings pending.
Stroud indicated she was informed the death is being examined as a possible homicide, although officials have not publicly confirmed this classification. She expressed frustration over perceived delays and confusion regarding jurisdiction between Santa Clara and San Jose police during the search.
"There was a huge delay," Stroud said. "They didn't take my brother's case seriously at all." In response, Santa Clara authorities denied any lapse, asserting in a statement that the case "was not delayed and was investigated with the protocols and investigative steps required."
Family's Grief and Unanswered Questions
Simpkins' family is struggling to comprehend how he ended up in the creek near the stadium. In an online fundraiser created to cover funeral and transportation costs, they described him as "a deeply loved son, brother, husband, father and friend." They plan to bury him in Redding, California, alongside his father, brother, and grandparents.
As investigators work to determine the circumstances of his death, his grieving relatives emphasize that the unanswered questions are intensifying their pain. "How my brother ended up in the creek — that's the part that's killing my family," Stroud lamented.
