SEBASTIAN — Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers stated on July 9 that two dead bodies found within two days of each other along U.S. 1 in Sebastian are not connected. The statement addressed discoveries made on July 6 and July 8.

On July 6, James Thompson, 44, of Palm Bay, was found by a person fishing from the shoreline of the Indian River Lagoon shortly after 2 p.m. Thompson's body was located near the shoreline just south of the St. Sebastian River Bridge on U.S. 1, close to the Brevard County line. Thompson had been reported missing by his mother. An examination of his body revealed a minor contusion in the eyebrow area that did not extend deeper than a bruise. Authorities reported no bullet wounds, stab wounds, or other signs of violence on Thompson's body.

Two days later, on July 8, at approximately 4:10 p.m., a caller reported finding a heavily decomposed body in shrubbery on the east side of U.S. 1 near 14510 U.S. 1 in Sebastian. This location was across the street from where James Thompson's body was found. Officials are not releasing the identity of the second deceased man as of July 9 while they continue to notify his next of kin. The second man had a temporary address with his brother in Sebastian and was on pretrial release from Broward County with an active warrant for his arrest. The second deceased man had a history of serious seizures and had been hospitalized. On the morning of July 5, his brother took him back to the hospital. The man subsequently refused medical care and left the hospital wearing hospital socks. Officials have video footage of him walking along U.S. 1 after leaving the hospital.