OKLAHOMA CITY — A 20-year-old U.S. Navy sailor stationed at Tinker Air Force Base died Dec. 9 after jumping from a highway overpass near the Interstate 40 and Interstate 35 interchange, authorities said.
The death was confirmed by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, which reported that a person died after jumping from the bridge, prompting a law enforcement response and traffic delays in the area.
Multiple witnesses and individuals familiar with the events told The Salty Soldier that the sailor, Seaman Thatcher Rupert, sought urgent mental health assistance on base earlier that afternoon and was turned away.
According to those accounts, Rupert went to the Mental Health Clinic at Tinker Air Force Base requesting to see his assigned therapist. He was reportedly told he needed to schedule an appointment and could not be seen at that time. Witnesses said he left the clinic visibly distressed, exited the installation, and drove toward Oklahoma City.
Timeline of Events
Witnesses who encountered Rupert at the scene said he was observed sitting on the ledge of the overpass at approximately 3:51 p.m. A base-wide notification advising that outbound lanes at Tinker Air Force Base were placed under “stop, check, and pass” procedures was issued at 3:52 p.m., according to a message distributed to base personnel.
Individuals familiar with the incident said the drive from the base medical area to the overpass typically takes about 30 minutes, raising questions about when base authorities were notified that Rupert had left the installation in crisis.
Witnesses said a fellow service member and a police officer stopped and attempted to speak with Rupert after noticing him on the bridge. During the encounter, Rupert reportedly said he had gone through the proper military channels to seek help but was still unable to receive care.
He jumped shortly afterward.
Multiple sources allege that mental health personnel did not immediately notify Security Forces when Rupert left the clinic in distress. Those claims have not been publicly addressed by base leadership.
Prior Mental Health Concerns
Sources familiar with Rupert’s situation said he had been seeking mental health care for more than six months prior to his death and had expressed suicidal ideation during that period. He was also reportedly pursuing a discharge from the military.
Individuals assisting the family allege that multiple complaints had previously been submitted regarding the therapist assigned to Rupert. The Department of War has not confirmed those claims.
Witnesses and advocates further allege that nine suicides occurred at Tinker Air Force Base in 2025, including several within Navy squadrons assigned to the installation. The Department of War has not released official suicide statistics for the base for the current year.
Family Notification and Aftermath
According to individuals assisting Rupert’s family, next of kin were not notified of his death for nearly 24 hours and were initially not informed that he had died by suicide.
Sources also allege that members of Rupert’s unit were instructed not to speak with the family following his death. The authority for such instructions has not been publicly clarified.
As of this week, family representatives say Rupert’s remains have not yet been returned home, and the family has received limited official information about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Tinker Air Force Base has not issued a public statement acknowledging Rupert’s death or addressing the reported timeline of events. Repeated requests for comment from The Salty Soldier to the base’s Public Affairs Office went unanswered prior to publication.
Those who knew Rupert described him as kind and well-liked by peers and family members.
A memorial fund established by his family benefits suicide prevention efforts through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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