SANTA CLARA, CA — Authorities are investigating the mysterious death of a 44-year-old San Jose father whose body was discovered in a creek near Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, ending a six-day search that has sparked a heated dispute between his grieving family and local law enforcement. Thomas Simpkins, described by relatives as a devoted family man, vanished on February 8 after attending a Super Bowl gathering, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and allegations of police negligence.
A Timeline of Disappearance
The timeline of events began Sunday evening following a Super Bowl barbecue in San Jose. According to Simpkins’ sister, Brandi Stroud, the 44-year-old is believed to have returned to his residence around 9:00 p.m. local time.
The alarm was raised the following morning when Simpkins failed to report for work. His 19-year-old son officially filed a missing person report shortly thereafter. For nearly a week, the family utilized social media and local outreach to locate him, only to receive the devastating news via a private message from a stranger on Facebook who shared a link regarding a body recovery.
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Discovery at San Tomas Aquino Creek
On February 14, the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD) confirmed the recovery of a body from San Tomas Aquino Creek, located approximately six miles from Simpkins’ home.
Stroud confirmed she identified her brother through a distinct, large tattoo of their surname across his back. While the location of the discovery is a popular transit point for stadium attendees, the circumstances of how Simpkins traveled from his home to the creek remain unknown.
“When he got home, we have no idea who picked him up or how he got all the way to Levi’s Stadium,” Stroud told reporters. “I don’t believe that my brother just decided to throw himself into a creek.”
Family Alleges Jurisdictional Delays
The tragedy has been compounded by friction between the Simpkins family and the agencies tasked with finding him. Stroud publicly criticized the initial response, claiming the case suffered from a “huge delay” as it was passed between different jurisdictional boundaries.
The family’s primary grievances include:
- Lack of Urgency: Claims that authorities “didn’t take the case seriously” during the critical first 48 hours.
- Communication Failures: The family learned of the body’s discovery through social media rather than official police channels.
- Bureaucratic Red Tape: Allegations that jurisdictional hand-offs between San Jose and Santa Clara slowed the investigative momentum.
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Law Enforcement Response
Both the San Jose Police Department (SJPD) and the SCPD have issued statements defending their conduct.
“At no point was this case dismissed or ignored,” the SJPD stated, acknowledging the “fear and frustration” inherent in missing persons cases. The SCPD, which assumed leadership of the investigation following the discovery of the body, maintained that the case followed all necessary protocols without delay.
A Community in Mourning
Simpkins is survived by his wife, Claudia, a biological son, and three stepchildren. A GoFundMe page established by the family remembers “Tommy” as a man whose “kindness, strength, and unwavering love” impacted all who knew him.
The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released an official cause of death. As the investigation transitions from a missing person search to a death inquiry, the focus remains on the six-mile gap between Simpkins’ front door and the waters of San Tomas Aquino Creek.
