Dad Vanishes After Super Bowl Party — Found Dead Days Later Near Stadium

What started as a Super Bowl Sunday celebration ended in heartbreak for one California family.

Thomas Simpkins, a 44-year-old husband and father, disappeared after attending a friend’s barbecue in San Jose on Feb. 8. Days later, his body was discovered near Levi’s Stadium — nearly six miles from his home — leaving loved ones searching for answers.

According to his sister, Brandi Stroud, Simpkins had been texting with family the day of the party and was believed to have returned home around 9 p.m. that night. But when he failed to show up for work the next morning, alarm bells started ringing. His 19-year-old son reported him missing soon after.

“Me and my brother text messaged a lot,” Stroud said in an interview with NBC Bay Area. “I had talked to him on Feb. 8 before he had went to this barbecue.”

Six days later, authorities confirmed a grim discovery. Simpkins’ body was found in San Tomas Aquino Creek, located behind Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The Santa Clara Police Department said it took over the investigation once the body was located.

Stroud says she learned about the discovery in a shocking way — through a stranger on Facebook who sent her a link reporting that a body had been found near the stadium. After contacting the medical examiner’s office, she confirmed it was her brother, identifying him by a large tattoo of his last name across his back.

The circumstances surrounding how Simpkins ended up miles from home remain unclear.

“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.”

Before his body was found, Stroud said there was a “huge delay” in how the missing persons case was handled, claiming it bounced between jurisdictions and wasn’t taken seriously. Authorities have pushed back on that characterization.

The San Jose Police Department said in a statement that the case was never dismissed or ignored and acknowledged how emotionally devastating missing persons cases can be for families. The Santa Clara Police Department added that the investigation followed required protocols and was not delayed.

Meanwhile, Simpkins’ family is left grieving a sudden and devastating loss.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of our beloved Tommy,” the family wrote on a GoFundMe page. “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.”

Simpkins is survived by his wife, Claudia, three stepchildren and one biological son.

For now, the biggest question remains unanswered: how did a night meant for football and friends turn into a mystery that ended in tragedy?