California Dad Found Dead Near Levi’s Stadium Days After Disappearing Following Super Bowl Party

California Dad Found Dead Near Levi’s Stadium Days After Disappearing Following Super Bowl Party

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A 44-year-old California father was found dead days after disappearing following a Super Bowl celebration, leaving family and friends searching for answers.

Thomas “Tommy” Simpkins attended a friend’s barbecue in San Jose on Sunday, Feb. 8, to celebrate the annual sporting event, his sister, Brandi Stroud, told the San Francisco Chronicle. According to Stroud, Simpkins was believed to have left the gathering and returned home around 9 p.m. that same night. However, he did not show up for work the following day, prompting his 19-year-old son to report him missing.

“Me and my brother texted a lot,” Stroud told NBC Bay Area. “I had talked to him on Feb. 8 before he went to this barbecue.”

Despite family efforts to locate him, Simpkins remained missing for nearly a week. On Feb. 14, six days after his disappearance, authorities discovered his body near Levi’s Stadium, nearly six miles from his home along San Tomas Aquino Creek, the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD) confirmed to local outlets.

Simpkins’ family expressed their grief and love in a statement on GoFundMe, saying, “It is with heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of our beloved Tommy. He was a deeply loved son, brother, husband, father, and friend. His kindness, strength, and unwavering love for his family touched everyone who knew him.”

He is survived by his wife, Claudia Simpkins, three stepchildren, and one biological son, according to the fundraising page.

Stroud said she first learned of her brother’s death when a “random lady on Facebook sent me a link” about a body recovered behind Levi’s Stadium. She later confirmed the identity through a distinctive tattoo of his last name across his back, as reported by NBC Bay Area.

“When he got home, we have no idea who picked him up or how he got all the way to Levi’s Stadium,” Stroud said. “I don’t believe that my brother just decided to throw himself into a creek. I don’t have any answers when it comes down to really what happened to him.”

Stroud also criticized what she described as delays in the handling of her brother’s missing person case, saying it was “bounced in between jurisdictional boundaries” and that authorities “didn’t take my brother’s case seriously at all.” She added, “I was praying that at least if he didn’t come home alive, that we’d find him. The unanswered questions about Tommy’s death continue to be the part that’s killing my family.”

In response, the San Jose Police Department (SJPD) emphasized, “We understand how incredibly difficult and emotional this situation is for the family. When a loved one is missing, every moment feels critical, and we recognize the fear and frustration that can come with that uncertainty. At no point was this case dismissed or ignored.”

The SCPD, which took over the investigation after the discovery of Simpkins’ body, added, “This case was not delayed and was investigated with the protocols and investigative steps required.”

Authorities have not released further details regarding the circumstances of Simpkins’ death, leaving many questions about how he ended up near the stadium still unanswered. Family members continue to grieve while seeking clarity about what happened in the days following the Super Bowl celebration.