Finding a traditional Thomas Matthew Crooks obituary is honestly a lot harder than you’d expect for someone who dominated every news cycle in the world. Usually, when a 20-year-old dies, there’s a local newspaper notice, a funeral home page filled with "thoughts and prayers," and a list of surviving relatives. But this wasn’t a normal death.
It was a national trauma.
The reality is that no public, family-sanctioned obituary was ever released through the usual channels in Bethel Park. His parents, Matthew and Mary Crooks, both licensed counselors, retreated into a cocoon of legal silence and private mourning. There was no public service. No open invitation for the community to gather. Instead, the "obituary" of Thomas Matthew Crooks was written by investigators, former classmates, and the digital trail he left behind.
The Life That Ended on a Butler Rooftop
He was basically a ghost even before he became a headline. Born September 20, 2003, Crooks grew up in a modest suburban home on a leafy street in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. People who knew him describe a kid who was quiet. Not "scary quiet," just... there.
He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. You’ve probably seen the video of his graduation by now. He walks across the stage, bespectacled and slender, receiving his diploma with barely a ripple of applause. He wasn't the star quarterback or the class clown. He was a National Math and Science Initiative "Star Award" winner—a $500 prize that suggested a bright, technical future.
His SAT score? 1530. That’s the 99th percentile. He was brilliant in a way that didn't always translate to social ease.
What the Investigation Revealed
After the shooting on July 13, 2024, the FBI spent months digging through his life. They didn't find a manifesto. No "I hate this person" or "I love this ideology" letter.
- He worked as a dietary aide at a nursing home.
- He had an associate degree in engineering science.
- He was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club.
- He practiced at the range over 40 times in his final year.
It's a weird contrast. On one hand, you have a guy who was "polite and thoughtful" to his college professors. On the other, you have someone who bought a five-foot ladder and 50 rounds of ammo on the morning of his death.
The "Secret Double Life" Nobody Saw
A lot of the "obituary" details we have now come from a massive CBS News investigation and FBI briefings. They found that Crooks was a master of compartmentalization. He was planning for a future he knew he’d never see.
For instance, he was meticulously polishing his transfer applications to Robert Morris University and the University of Pittsburgh. He was arguing with professors over a single point on a math test just weeks before the rally. At the same time, he was researching how to build improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in his bedroom.
His parents reportedly called police hours before the shooting to say he was missing. They were worried. They just didn't know how worried they should have been.
The Aftermath and the Body
The Butler County Coroner’s Office eventually ruled the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head. It was a homicide, legally speaking, caused by the Secret Service counter-sniper.
His body was released to his family about 10 days after the shooting. Some members of a Congressional task force actually complained about this. Representative Clay Higgins expressed frustration that the body had been cremated before he could personally examine it.
Honestly, the lack of a formal Thomas Matthew Crooks obituary is likely a choice for safety and privacy. In cases like this, a public grave or a funeral notice often becomes a flashpoint for protesters or, worse, a site for "dark tourism."
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Why the Search for an Obituary Persists
People search for his obituary because they want a motive. They want to see if there’s a "why" buried in the family's words.
But there isn't one.
The FBI officially concluded its investigation in late 2025, and the motive remains "unknown." He didn't leave a trail on social media. His Discord was mostly empty. His Steam account didn't have the "premiere" post people initially thought it did.
Actionable Insights for Researching High-Profile Cases
If you’re looking for factual data on cases involving national security or major crimes, avoid "tribute" sites that often scrape names to generate fake obituaries for ad revenue.
- Check official government reports: The FBI's "Vault" or Congressional Task Force findings are the only places where verified personal details (like the 1530 SAT score) are confirmed.
- Look for court or coroner records: The Butler County Coroner and Allegheny County Medical Examiner provided the only "official" death notices available.
- Verify via reputable news outlets: Stick to sources that have viewed the actual documents, like the CBS investigation into his encrypted internet use and school emails.
The story of Thomas Matthew Crooks ended in a way that left more questions than answers. While there is no traditional obituary to read, the portrait of a high-achieving, deeply isolated, and increasingly radicalized young man is what remains in the public record.
He was a person of two futures: one where he became an engineer, and one where he changed the country forever. He chose the latter.
To get the most accurate picture of the investigation's final results, you can look into the FBI's November 2025 summary report, which provides the final word on his digital footprint and the lack of a clear ideological motive.