A tragic conclusion has been reached in the search for an elderly couple who vanished after a Thanksgiving family gathering. Linda, 81, and Gary Lightfoot, 82, were found dead in their vehicle five days after they disappeared, with evidence suggesting they froze to death after becoming lost hundreds of miles from home.
A Thanksgiving Journey That Ended in Tragedy
The couple had spent the holiday with family in Panhandle, Texas, attending church and sharing a final lunch where photographs were taken. Around 3pm on Thanksgiving, they packed leftovers and began the anticipated three-hour drive back to their home in Lubbock. They aimed to arrive before dark but never did.
Concern grew when Linda's sister, Barbara Scheller, received no reply to her 6:30pm text checking on their safe arrival. Contact with their son, Greg, confirmed the worst: his parents had not returned. The family promptly reported them missing.
The Desperate Search and a Grim Discovery
The investigation quickly revealed the couple had travelled in the wrong direction. Instead of heading south to Lubbock, they went west into New Mexico. Their vehicle was captured on camera there, and the last cellular data ping was detected near Santa Rosa. Five days later, on 2 December, a farmer in Tucumcari, New Mexico, spotted the car on his property while tending cattle and alerted police.
Officers discovered the Lightfoots' bodies in the back of the silver car. The scene was perplexing: the vehicle had a flat tyre, the boot was open, and it was still shifted into drive, its battery drained. It had crashed through a gate and a cattle deterrent before stopping amongst trees. A police report noted a 'fur-like jacket' had been placed over Linda's face.
A Son's Heartbreaking Theory and a Legacy of Love
Police do not suspect foul play, citing an absence of trauma, and the presence of $311 in cash and a loaded firearm. Their son Greg revealed neither had a mobile phone, as Linda had left hers at home. He shared his belief that his mother, who was driving, may have suffered a medical episode like a mini-stroke, causing them to become disoriented. He noted his father no longer drove.
Intriguingly, Greg disclosed that his parents had even been pulled over by police in New Mexico. They told the officer they were lost and trying to reach Lubbock, were given directions, but subsequently deviated from them. The officer was unaware a missing persons bulletin had been issued.
With overnight temperatures plunging into the low 20s (-6°C) during their disappearance, Greg suspects hypothermia was the cause of death. An official autopsy report is pending. The couple, married for 62 years, are remembered by their son as 'interesting, fun people' who loved to travel and help others. A GoFundMe set up for funeral expenses had raised over $18,000.
