Two unrelated bodies discovered near the Sebastian River Bridge within days of each other are believed to be isolated incidents linked to mental health and medical struggles, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The first individual, identified as 44-year-old Brevard County resident James Thompson, was discovered by two fishermen at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6. His body was located along the shoreline on the southwest side of the Sebastian River Bridge. Thompson was a father and the owner of One & Done Home Improvements, Inc., a business he successfully operated for a decade.
Leading up to his disappearance, Thompson was staying at the nearby Sebastian Sands Motel. His mother, Jody Thompson of Micco, reported speaking with him on the morning of Sunday, July 5. During what would be their final phone call, Thompson, recognizing his deteriorating condition, asked his mother to transport him to a mental health facility in Titusville. Jody Thompson openly acknowledged her son’s ongoing, tragic struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues.
Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers provided further context regarding Thompson’s final days, noting that Thompson had reportedly purchased methamphetamine on Friday, July 3, and subsequently entered a manic state. Flowers stated that Thompson was aware he was struggling and had made concerning statements to his mother regarding a potential fentanyl overdose.
Just two days later, on Wednesday, July 8, another fisherman found a second body on the southeast side of the same bridge, merely 100 yards away from where Thompson was located. The second individual, identified only as a 65-year-old man, had a temporary address with his brother in Sebastian. Authorities noted that he was on pre-trial release following an arrest by the Plantation Police Department for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in Broward County.
According to Sheriff Flowers, the 65-year-old man had a known history of seizures and had recently walked away from care at Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital.
Authorities have firmly stated that the two deaths are not connected and that foul play is not suspected in either case. Investigators believe these were random, unfortunate events that coincidentally occurred in the same geographic area, pending final toxicology results to confirm the exact causes of death.
The ongoing Indian River County Sheriff’s Office investigation has revealed several key findings regarding the parallel discoveries:
- Surveillance footage captured both men walking separately along northbound U.S. 1 at different times on Sunday, July 5.
- Deputies do not believe either body had been submerged in the water prior to being discovered on the shoreline.
- No personal items or belongings were found near either of the deceased men.
James Thompson leaves behind a grieving family, including his wife of eight years, Reyna, his two children, his mother, Jody, and his sister, Courtney. As the local community processes the unusual discovery of two bodies in such close proximity, authorities continue to await final autopsy and toxicology reports to close the investigations into these separate tragedies.
