Parenting
By Jennifer Lee
Updated: Sep. 5, 2021
Originally Published: Sep. 3, 2021
Content Warning: Child Harm
David Thompson seemed like an ordinary individual. Born in Santa Barbara in 1981, he was raised by an artist mother and a father who ran a small business. From a young age, he developed a passion for the ocean, spending his childhood sailing, surfing, and spearfishing along the California coast. He earned a bachelor’s degree from San Loma University while competing on its National Championship surf team, then later taught English to high school students in San Sebastián, Spain. After two years of teaching and traveling, he returned to Santa Barbara to pursue a master’s degree in Spanish. Motivated by his Evangelical faith, he aimed to contribute positively to his community, founding Lovewater Surf School in 2011, a Christian surf camp that gained acclaim as the top surf school in Santa Barbara and Ventura.
Active in the local Christian surfing community, a former student described him as the quintessential Santa Barbara water enthusiast: a sportsman, spearfisher, and surfer. “He was always cheerful and upbeat, sometimes to the point of being a little unsettling,” they said. Known for his Evangelical beliefs, he often discussed morality and ethics but showed no signs of the horrific actions he would later commit in August 2021.
In 2017, Thompson married his wife, Emily. He celebrated their first anniversary on Instagram, reflecting on the joy of marriage. In October 2018, their son, Leo, was born at home, and two years later, their daughter, Mia, arrived during a thunderstorm. He announced her birth online, proclaiming she was chosen by God to fulfill a significant purpose. The last Instagram photo of his children, shared on July 16, 2021, depicted three-year-old Leo standing on a surfboard with his father. Just two months later, he would take their lives.
Thompson Flees Home
On August 7, Emily contacted the Santa Barbara police after David abruptly left with both children in their family van. They had not been arguing, and she felt no immediate concern for their safety at that moment. Initially, she believed David would return home. However, as he failed to respond to texts or calls, her worry intensified. Law enforcement suggested she use the “Find My Phone” app, which quickly located him in the small Mexican town of Pabellon Rosita, Baja California. Surveillance footage confirmed he checked into a hotel shortly after disappearing.
On August 9, he left the hotel in the morning with his son and daughter but returned alone.
Thompson’s Descent into Delusion
David had appeared to be a devoted father. An anonymous surf instructor recounted a recent conversation on the beach, where they discussed fatherhood. Thompson seemed his usual happy self, expressing love for his children and his faith. However, he had succumbed to a disturbing mental break.
According to a federal affidavit, Thompson believed he had been receiving divine visions indicating that Emily possessed “serpent DNA” and that this trait had been passed on to their children. He felt compelled to save the world from what he perceived as monsters, influenced heavily by conspiracy theories linked to QAnon and the Illuminati.
QAnon is a convoluted conspiracy theory alleging that elite figures, including celebrities and politicians, engage in heinous acts to maintain power and youth. Adherents often claim that these figures receive messages from an anonymous source known as “Q.”
What Happened That Fateful Morning?
When the FBI reached out to their Mexican counterparts, they discovered two children matching the descriptions of Leo and Mia had been found around 8 a.m. that morning. A ranch worker noticed blood outside his property and was led by his dog to the lifeless bodies of the infants. He immediately notified the authorities, shaken and saddened by the discovery.
Upon returning to the U.S. without his children, Thompson was stopped at the San Ysidro Point of Entry for additional screening. Authorities found bloodstains on his vehicle’s registration papers, leading to his arrest. Afterward, he confessed to transporting Mia in a box due to a lack of a car seat. Obsessed with the idea of “serpent DNA,” he took the children to Rancho del Cielo, where he gruesomely stabbed Mia multiple times with a spear gun, fatally striking her heart. Leo was also killed similarly, and when he didn’t die immediately, Thompson claimed he injured himself while trying to move the weapon.
Following the horrific acts, he concealed the bodies in underbrush, disposed of bloody clothes and the spear gun near a creek, and discarded further evidence in a trash can near Tijuana.
Reactions to the Tragedy
Emily remains in disbelief and heartbroken, struggling to comprehend the events leading to such a tragedy. Friends and family describe her as confused and devastated, asserting she never suspected David held such extreme beliefs. A local pastor expressed concern over the dangers of conspiracy theories, emphasizing the need for love and clarity in one’s life.
Many in the surfing community were taken aback; one surfer remarked he would have trusted Thompson with his own children. “He seemed like a well-adjusted person, definitely not someone who would commit such a heinous act,” said another.
On August 11, Thompson was charged with the murder of his children, a crime that required approval from the U.S. Attorney General. He has been detained without bail, with his arraignment set for August 31.
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Summary
David Thompson’s tragic story paints a grim picture of a man who seemingly transformed from a loving father and community member into a perpetrator of unspeakable violence. Influenced by conspiracy theories, his delusions led to the heartbreaking loss of his two young children. The community is left in shock and mourning, grappling with the reality of such a profound tragedy.