California Father Found Dead Near Super Bowl Venue; Investigation Ongoing

A California father who went missing after a Super Bowl party is now being investigated as a possible murder case. Thomas Simpkins, 44, was last seen with friends before his body was discovered six days later in a stream behind Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Simpkins had taken an Uber home after attending a gathering around 9 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday. His sister, Brandi Stroud, noted that his body was found near a sports venue, which is about six miles from his home. It’s unclear how he ended up at San Tomas Aquino Creek.

Interestingly, Simpkins didn’t actually attend the game; he had just gone to a barbecue a few miles away from the venue. His sisters expressed disbelief at the circumstances surrounding his death. “When he got home, he had no idea who came to pick him up or how he got to Levi’s Stadium,” they said. They also mentioned, “I don’t think my brother just decided to throw himself into the stream. I really don’t know what happened.”

Stroud, who had been in contact with her brother, said Simpkins indicated he planned to relax at home after the game. However, when the family lost contact, concern grew. The situation escalated when Simpkins’ 19-year-old son visited his workplace and discovered that his father had not arrived for his shift.

Stroud traveled from Oregon to search for her brother. But it was a stranger on Facebook who alerted her that a body had been found in a creek near Levi’s Stadium. “I didn’t even know there was a recovery until someone reached out to me,” she explained.

Upon contacting the coroner’s office, Stroud was able to identify her brother by a distinctive tattoo of his last name on his back. Notably, his cellphone and wallet were missing, raising further questions. Stroud mentioned that authorities are treating Simpkins’ death as a potential homicide.

The coroner’s investigation into the cause of death is ongoing, but definitive results may take weeks. Standard autopsy processes, including drug and alcohol screenings, could stretch from one to six months.

Stroud pointed out that the initial missing person report was “significantly delayed,” as various law enforcement departments failed to take the investigation seriously. Eventually, the San Jose police took charge of the case.

Simpkins leaves behind three stepchildren and one biological son, and he was reportedly going through a divorce at the time of his passing.