In Loving Memory of Tommy Simpkins
With aching hearts and countless unanswered questions, the family and friends of Tommy Simpkins mourn a loss that feels both devastating and deeply unsettling. A son, a brother, and a friend, Tommy’s life ended far too soon — leaving behind a grief compounded by mystery and silence.
Tommy, who grew up in Redding, was last seen on February 8 in San Jose, where he had attended a barbecue gathering on Super Bowl Sunday. What should have been an ordinary day of celebration and connection became the beginning of a heartbreaking ordeal. When Tommy did not return home and loved ones could not reach him, worry quickly turned into alarm.
For a week, his family searched tirelessly — posting missing person flyers across the Bay Area, sharing his photo and information across social media platforms, and pleading for help from anyone who might have seen him. Every passing day without answers deepened their fear.
On February 14, tragedy struck. Tommy was found deceased in a creek behind Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Shockingly, it was not an official call from investigators that first alerted the family to this discovery. Instead, through the power of social media and community sharing, a woman reached out to Tommy’s sister, Brandi Stroud, after hearing police scanner audio that connected the dots.
From that moment, Brandi took on the painful responsibility of confirming what no family ever wants to hear. She contacted authorities and worked with the coroner to identify her brother. In a detail that is both heartbreaking and deeply personal, she was able to confirm his identity by the large “Simpkins” tattoo on his back — a mark of pride and identity that now serves as a final confirmation of loss.
Adding to the pain, Tommy’s wallet and phone were missing when he was found. For his loved ones, these details raise more questions than answers. They are left grappling not only with grief, but with uncertainty. The silence they describe from investigators has made it difficult to begin the healing process.
“There’s a lot of questions that haven’t been answered,” Brandi shared. “We can’t ever begin the healing because we can’t get a hold of anybody to tell us what’s going on.”
Behind the headlines and investigative details was a man who mattered deeply to those who knew him. Tommy was more than a missing person case or a mysterious death. He was family. He was history. He was memories made in childhood in Redding — laughter shared, lessons learned, and bonds formed that time could never break.
Those who knew Tommy describe him as someone who carried both strength and heart. Growing up in Northern California shaped him — rooted in community, resilience, and loyalty to those he loved. His absence leaves an emptiness that words cannot fill.
In times of tragedy, communities often rally together — and in Tommy’s case, it was community members online who helped his family find answers when official channels felt distant. That connection, though born of sorrow, is a testament to the compassion that still exists among strangers.
As investigations continue, Tommy’s family waits for clarity. They wait for accountability. Most of all, they wait for peace — the kind that only truth can bring.
Today, we remember Tommy Simpkins not for the circumstances of his death, but for the life he lived. For the brother who was fiercely loved. For the man whose name is etched not only in ink on his back, but in the hearts of everyone who called him their own.
May his memory be honored with truth.
May his family be surrounded with strength.
And may Tommy Simpkins rest in eternal peace. 🕊️
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