New billboard seeks answers in death of Thomas Jodry, who fell from SLO parking garage
A billboard helped bring attention to the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart, and now another family hopes one can do the same for their son.
The new billboard on Highway 101 reads “What happened to Thomas Jodry?” with JusticeForThomas.com in big lettering and a photo of Thomas Jodry, who died after falling from the Marsh Street parking garage in San Luis Obispo in September 2019.
“We want the public to know this case hasn’t just died and gone away,” said Mary Jane Jodry, Thomas Jodry’s mother.
The billboard first appeared on South Higuera Street just across from the cemetery in early January and stayed for about a month.
On Wednesday, it moved to the north side of Highway 101 at the base of the Cuesta Grade, where it can be seen by drivers traveling southbound.
Mary Jane Jodry and Bill Jodry, Thomas Jodry’s father, have been searching for answers as to what happened to their son ever since the night he died. They said they hope the billboard brings similar attention to their son as it did to Kristin Smart, whose case is headed to trial more than 25 years after her disappearance.
“This isn’t just like ‘somebody stole my bike’ or ‘somebody stole my car,’” Bill Jodry said. “Our son died and (law enforcement) didn’t give it due attention.”
What happened to Thomas Jodry?
Thomas Jodry met David Allen Knight when Knight bought a cactus from him in late August 2019. Knight was 57 at the time, and Thomas Jodry was 21.
Text messages saved from Thomas Jodry’s phone by his parents and shared with the Tribune show the two messaged each other for a few weeks before Knight showed up at their Atascadero home Sept. 14, 2019, to pick Thomas up for an unconfirmed plan to talk about art in San Luis Obispo.
The two had planned to view the architecture garden at Cal Poly, but campus was crowded as it was freshman move-in week. Google Timeline, an app Thomas Jodry had installed on his phone, shows that his phone went from Cal Poly’s campus to a Mexican restaurant, then Montaña de Oro State Park then back to San Luis Obispo, where security footage shows the two at Frog & Peach Pub.
In security footage from the pub viewed by the Tribune, the two can be seen drinking alcoholic beverages.
At one point, Knight buys him and Thomas a large shot. Knight can be seen gesturing Thomas Jodry to a toast. Thomas takes his shot, but Knight does not. The footage showed Knight then switching his full glass with Thomas Jodry’s empty glass, and Thomas Jodry ends up taking both of the shots that were purchased.
The two separated in the pub around 8 p.m., and Knight texted “F--k you” to Thomas. Security footage shows the two leaving the pub together around 8:45 p.m.
According to a coroner’s report obtained by the Tribune, Thomas Jodry’s blood alcohol content when he died was 0.38 percent — almost five times the legal limit to drive.
Thomas Jodry arrived at the Marsh Street parking garage around 9:10 p.m., where the Google Timeline app last its signal due to the concrete in the structure.
It is unclear what happened during this time, but an ambulance was called at 9:16 p.m. when someone spotted Thomas on the ground outside the parking garage after he fell. At that same time, Google Timeline shows Thomas Jodry’s phone leaving the structure and moving away from the scene, then returning to the parking structure around 9:25 p.m.
San Luis Obispo Police body camera footage shows Knight identifying Thomas Jodry at the scene, but it is unclear if this was around 9:25 p.m. Knight texted Thomas Jodry, “Where are you?” at 9:27 p.m., presumably after he may have identified Thomas Jodry to police officers and already had Thomas Jodry’s phone in his possession.
Bill and Mary Jane Jodry began calling their son’s phone nonstop around this time, phone records show. They said they were worried because Thomas had still not returned home.
The phone seems to have been turned off at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center between 9:46 and 10:21 p.m. The timeline shows the phone seemed to be turned back on just before Knight returned to the Jodry residence at 10:21 p.m. and gave Thomas Jodry’s phone to his parents. Knight told the Jodrys to call the hospital, which is how Bill and Mary Jane Jodry found out their son did not survive.
Thomas Jodry’s death was first ruled a suicide, but the county Sheriff-Coroner’s Office later amended its findings to show that his manner of death “could not be determined,” and instead wrote he “fell” from the structure.
Bill and Mary Jane Jodry believe Knight, who has a child molestation conviction that has since been expunged, had something to do with their son’s death. They filed a wrongful death suit against Knight, and it awaits trial.
There are several people in security and body camera footage who have not yet been identified who the Jodry family feels may have information about what happened to their son. The Jodry family asks anyone who thinks they may have information to contact them through their website JusticeForThomas.com.
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 9:00 AM.
