Family sought for 41-year-old found dead in Birmingham’s Valley Creek on Memorial Day
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the man Timothy Jesse Copeland. He was a 41-year-old Black transient believed to be from Michigan.
Ethan Parker 
Authorities are seeking the public's assistance in locating the family of a man discovered deceased in Birmingham’s Valley Creek on Memorial Day.
Coroner Identifies Deceased
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has identified the individual as 41-year-old Timothy Jesse Copeland. Copeland was a transient and is believed to have been originally from Detroit, Michigan.
Discovery and Investigation
The incident began when Birmingham police and the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service were called to the 300 block of Third Avenue North at 12:08 p.m. this past Monday. A fisherman had discovered Copeland’s body partially submerged near the base of a bridge pillar, requiring Birmingham firefighters to perform an extrication from the water.
While an autopsy has been performed, officials found no evidence of foul play. The final cause of death remains pending as further laboratory studies are conducted.
Seeking Next of Kin
Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates confirmed that current efforts to notify Copeland's family have been unsuccessful. Records indicate that Copeland had been staying in the Birmingham area since at least October 2025, with prior records placing him in Rainbow City back in 2016.
205focus.com encourages anyone with information regarding Copeland’s family members to contact the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office immediately at 205-930-3603.
