Missing Texas couple found dead in New Mexico after disappearing post-Thanksgiving.
An elderly couple from Texas, Charles “Gary” Lightfoot, 82, and his wife Linda Eppers Lightfoot, 81, who went missing shortly after visiting friends for Thanksgiving, have been found deceased in New Mexico, as confirmed by authorities from both states. Their remains were discovered around 10:30 AM on a Tuesday in a remote pasture near Tucumcari, New Mexico, by a local rancher, according to Carson County Sheriff Tam Terry.
The couple’s vehicle was also located at the scene. Sheriff Terry’s office noted the vehicle was discovered in a particularly rural area, indicating that it may have encountered difficulties in navigating the terrain. An unopened oxygen tank, essential for Gary Lightfoot’s health needs, was found in the vehicle. Sheriff Dennis Garcia from Quay County indicated that the couple’s vehicle likely became immobilized in a ravine within the pasture, identified by closed gates leading into the property.
Initial investigations suggest that the couple succumbed to hypothermia, with foul play being ruled out. However, the circumstances surrounding how they arrived at the location and the timeline of events leading to their disappearance remain unclear. The Lightfoots had spent their holiday visiting friends in Panhandle, Texas, and were last seen departing on Thursday. Their journey home appeared erratic; reports indicate their vehicle traveled approximately 200 miles back and forth on Interstate 40 between Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and Groom, Texas, an abnormal pattern suggesting confusion or disorientation.
Search efforts intensified following their disappearance, with helicopters and drones deployed for reconnaissance. Local law enforcement conducted searches on Friday and Saturday as concerns grew. Notably, a Santa Rosa police officer had given the couple directions back to Lubbock on Friday, the day they were reported missing.
The tragic loss of the Lightfoots has cast a pall over the communities they were part of, prompting an outpouring of condolences and remembrances from friends and family. Their story underscores the vulnerabilities that can accompany aging, particularly when health complications are involved, and raises questions about the challenges faced by elderly individuals while traveling. As investigations continue, the primary focus remains on providing closure for the family of the Lightfoots and understanding the sequence of events that led to this tragic outcome.
