The family of Tianna Thomas, a vibrant 33-year-old mother of two from Georgia, is pleading for answers after she was found dead on Venice Beach earlier this year.
Thomas had recently relocated to California, seeking a fresh start, when tragedy struck.
Thomas’ body was discovered wrapped in a sleeping bag with what police described as “extensive trauma to the face,” her sister Kiara Thomas told Atlanta News First.
Authorities contacted the family on Feb. 11, one day after her remains were found.
“She said, ‘We got some disturbing news. We found your sister on the beach. It is like a homicide,’” Kiara recalled during an emotional interview with WSB-TV in Atlanta.
Tianna had grown up in DeKalb County, Georgia, where she attended New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Known for her free-spirited nature and love of helping others, Tianna was described by her sister as someone who “loved to live.” She had a deep passion for travel, community outreach, and uplifting the less fortunate.
“She was an outgoing person, full of life. All our friends knew it. She was someone who always gave back,” Kiara said.
According to family members, Thomas had moved to California in the fall of 2024 with hopes of building a better life for herself and her children. She had recently moved to the Pacific Palisades area but was displaced by California wildfires. With promised aid that never arrived, she found herself without housing and eventually sought shelter in Los Angeles.
Then came the shocking discovery. On Feb. 10, 2025, just after 7 a.m., Tianna’s body was located on Venice Beach, technically within the Santa Monica area. Her remains were concealed inside a sleeping bag, and investigators reported signs of visible facial trauma.
“My sister’s body was found…wrapped up in a sleeping bag. When police and investigators discovered her body, it was stuffed inside with invisible trauma to her face—battered!” Kiara wrote on a GoFundMe page created to support funeral costs and raise awareness.
Now, the grieving family is demanding justice and transparency.
“I just want to know what your reason was to do it. What was so bad to beat her like that?” Kiara said during her television appearance.
At this time, no suspects have been named, and the investigation remains open.
In the meantime, Tianna’s loved ones are still searching for closure.
As the GoFundMe message reads: “I never thought I’d have to write a GoFundMe for any siblings. I’m heartbroken and don’t know what to do.”
