The body of James Thompson, 44, a Brevard County resident, was found Monday on the west shoreline near U.S. Highway 1 and the north county line by a person fishing in the area. Thompson had been staying with his girlfriend at a hotel in Sebastian and was last seen Sunday walking northbound on U.S. Highway 1 around 1:30 p.m. Sheriff Eric Flowers said Thompson had a history of fentanyl use and mental health issues and had been to mental health facilities in Brevard County many times. On July 3, Thompson made a purchase of methamphetamine and had gone into a manic state. According to the sheriff, there was only a minor contusion on his eyebrow and no violence.
On Wednesday, shortly after 4 p.m., a second heavily decomposed body was located in shrubbery along the east shoreline near 14510 U.S. Highway 1, just across the street from Monday's location. The 65-year-old man had a temporary address with his brother in Sebastian and was out of jail on pretrial release after being arrested by Plantation police on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in Broward County. The man had a serious history of seizures, and his brother took him to a hospital on Sunday. He walked away from the hospital against medical advice at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Autopsies on both bodies showed no stab wounds or violence, and the investigation continues until toxicology results determine the cause of death.