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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 15, 2008

MILLIONAIRE
Fall was fatal to millionaire

By Dan Nakaso and Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writers

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Steven R. Thomas

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Lanikai millionaire Steven R. Thomas died of multiple injuries from a fall and no foul play is suspected, according to the medical examiner's office and Honolulu police.

Thomas, 36, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in April. On Sunday, his decomposed body was discovered on the Windward side of the Pali tunnel by three hikers at 12:45 p.m.

Thomas' injuries were consistent with a fall, Honolulu Police Maj. Alan Bluemke said yesterday. He said he did not know the estimated height of the fall.

Police investigators do not have any details on how or when the body got there, Bluemke said. The case is classified as an unattended death, which typically means the victim was not under a doctor's care.

The family positively identified the body, Bluemke said.

Thomas was the founder of Webroot Software — the company that created the Spy Sweeper and Window Washer programs — and controlled a fortune estimated at $50 million.

On April 27, he was arrested and taken to Castle Medical Center after he ran naked into a race/walk event in front of his home in Lanikai.

He was upset about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and claimed aliens and the government were out to get him, said his wife, Candis Burton Thomas. He had also reportedly refused medication and medical attention.

Along with his recent diagnosis for bipolar disorder, Thomas was anxious about the poor performance of his investment portfolio as well as discussions about moving back to Colorado full time, Candis Thomas said last week.

She and Thomas were scheduled to return to their summer home in Boulder, Colo., on June 27. The couple also owns a home on Mokulua Drive in Lanikai.

Neither Candis nor Thomas' twin brother, Kevin, returned several messages yesterday.

On June 26, Steven Thomas packed a suitcase and said he would stay with his mother and cousin at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel. He was last seen June 30 at the Waikiki hotel.

Before his diagnosis, Candis Thomas said last week, Thomas was a "totally normal, happy" guy who loved fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com and Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.