INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Jody Thompson remembers the last phone call she had with her son James Thompson, a father and business owner whose body was found at a popular fishing area last week. The two had a close-knit relationship and spoke to each other by phone each day.
“We saw each other three-to-five times a week,” said Jody Thompson, of Micco. “He was a very kind-hearted person. He would do anything for anybody.”
Now, the mother is waiting on word about what happened to her son, whose autopsy results could shed light on what happened to him in the hours that led to his death.
Jody Thompson said James Thompson, 44 and a longtime Brevard County resident, was a “kid at heart” who often went to amusement parks. He also enjoyed waterfront restaurants such as Outriggers Bar & Grill in Micco.
“He loved places like Fun Spot in Orlando,” Jody Thompson said. “We would usually end up in Old Town in Kissimmee.
James Thompson was also a hard worker who had a passion for assembling electronics, computers and gadgets, his mother said. He owned One & Done Home Improvements, Inc. – based in Brevard County – for 10 years.
“James liked fixing things,” Jody Thompson said.
James’ disappearance
But, the morning of Sunday, July 5, Jody Thompson said she talked to James Thompson by phone and knew something wasn’t right. The phone call marked the last time she would hear her son’s voice.
“He was in a pretty bad place,” Jody Thompson said of her son who was staying at the Sebastian Sands Motel, just down the street from where his body would be found. “He called to see if I would take him to a mental health facility in Titusville.”
Jody Thompson said she planned to take her son to the facility Sunday evening or Monday morning. When she didn’t hear from James Thompson Monday, July 6, she became concerned.
Later that same day, two fishermen discovered a body about 2 p.m. along the shoreline on the southwest side of the Sebastian River Bridge. Indian River County sheriff’s officials identified the body as James Thompson.
“I do not believe there was foul play involved with his death,” said Jody Thompson, who lives about a mile from the Sebastian River Bridge. “(My son) struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse.”
Audio provided by Indian River County Sheriff’s Office
Second body found
Another fisherman found a second body on Wednesday, July 8 on the southeast side of the same bridge, just 100 yards away from where James Thompson was located. The name of the second person – only identified as a 65-year-old man – was not released.
Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said James Thompson previously bought methamphetamine on Friday, July 3 and went into a manic state.
“He knew he had problems,” Flowers said. “He made statements (to his mother) about overdosing on fentanyl.”
Flowers said the second man found was on pre-trial release and had a temporary address in Sebastian with his brother. The man committed aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in Broward County and was arrested by the Plantation Police Department before his release.
Flowers said the man had a history of seizures and was taken to Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital. The man walked away from the hospital.
The man – and Thompson – were both seen on surveillance footage at different times walking along northbound U.S. 1 on Sunday, July 5.
The deaths were not connected and foul play was not suspected in either case.
‘There’s no words’
James Thompson leaves behind Reyna, his wife of eight years; two children; sister Courtney and mother Jody. Jody Thompson said she notified her grandchildren about their father’s death.
“His son was devastated,” Jody Thompson said. “I’ve never lost a child before. There’s no words.”
Sheriff’s officials said there were no items found near Thompson’s body or the body of the 65-year-old man. Deputies do not believe the bodies were in the water before being found.
The investigation into the deaths remains ongoing.
“We have nothing that leads us to believe this is anything but two random incidents that unfortunately happened in the same area,” Flowers said. “Until we get the toxicology results back, we won’t be able to say exactly what caused the deaths in both cases.”
