Their sudden disappearance has captured attention and touched people all across Texas.
But now, Charles “Gary” Lightfoot, 82, and Linda Eppers Lightfoot, 81, have been found dead.
Disappeared after Thanksgiving gathering
Charles “Gary” Lightfoot, 82, and Linda Eppers Lightfoot, 81, were last seen driving away from the small city of Panhandle on the afternoon of Nov. 27, setting out on what should have been a simple trip home to Lubbock after a Thanksgiving gathering.
But according to the Carson County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety, they never arrived — and that quiet disappearance quickly set off mounting concern across the region.
Authorities issued a Silver Alert as the search widened, pulling together local officers and law enforcement agencies across both Texas and New Mexico. What began as a simple drive home had suddenly turned into a multistate effort to find the missing couple.
The mystery deepened
Investigators believed the Lightfoots were traveling in a silver 2024 Toyota Camry with Texas plates. Those plates were spotted Thursday evening — first in Groom, and later near Santa Rosa, New Mexico — clues that deepened the mystery but offered no certainty. At that point, their direction of travel and final destination remained completely unknown, leaving family and authorities anxiously piecing together the couple’s last movements.
But on Tuesday, Charles and Linda were discovered dead in Quay County, New Mexico. According to Panhandle Police Chief Sace Hardman, authorities do not suspect any foul play. He noted the couple most likely suffered hypothermia, though an official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Their bodies are being transported to Albuquerque for autopsies.
No cell phones
Hardman added that investigators have been using license plate readers and the vehicle’s GPS as part of their efforts. The couple had no cell phone or any other device that could help track their location. According to the Carson County Sheriff’s Office, their disappearance was considered a serious risk to their health and safety, especially since Gary Lightfoot relies on supplemental oxygen.
”We would like to thank the public and all agencies involved. We would also like to offer condolences to the family and friends of the Lightfoots as this is a tragic event,” the Carson County Sheriff’s Office said on social media.
Gary had a long career in law enforcement, serving with several agencies including the Lamb County Sheriff’s Office and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. He also served as the Littlefield Police Chief from 1993 to 2003.
What a heartbreaking and tragic fate for this wonderful couple. So many of us hoped, right up until the end, that they would be found alive.
Rest in peace, Gary and Linda ❤️
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