Authorities found Linda and Gary Lightfoot dead in New Mexico after the Texas couple went missing following a family Thanksgiving celebration. The couple, both in their 80s, were the focus of a large multi-state search after they disappeared following the holiday gathering.
According to People, family members reported Linda, 81, and Gary, 82, missing on November 28 after they didn’t return home to Lubbock, Texas. They had left a family celebration in Panhandle, Texas, the day before on Thanksgiving, November 27. Panhandle Police Chief Sace Hardman said that the couple left the gathering around 3:00 PM local time.
The drive from Panhandle back to their Lubbock home is only about 150 miles. When they didn’t show up, their family quickly raised the alarm. Police believed the Lightfoots were driving a silver 2024 Toyota Camry, which was later spotted on cameras in both Texas and New Mexico.
The search faced a major problem that made finding them much harder
Neither Linda nor Gary were traveling with a cell phone or any other trackable device. When searching for an elderly couple who may have become confused, having no GPS signal or ping to follow is very challenging for law enforcement. Without any modern technology to guide them, investigators were basically searching blind across the vast areas of Texas and New Mexico.
Authorities in Texas issued a Silver Alert for the Lightfoots on November 30 after the Texas Department of Public Safety joined the search. The Carson County Sheriff’s Office shared details and photos of the couple on Facebook, asking for the public’s help. This isn’t the first time Texas authorities have dealt with unusual cases, as a rancher faced a bizarre lawsuit from State Farm recently.
The search involved large coordination between state and local agencies. The Panhandle Police Department, the Carson County Sheriff Office, New Mexico State Police, and the Texas Rangers all worked together to find the couple. New Mexico State Police and Quay County officials used helicopters and drones to scan the rugged terrain.
The tragic discovery was made in Quay County, New Mexico, on Tuesday, December 2. Panhandle Police Chief Sace Hardman confirmed the finding to Everything Lubbock, stating that authorities currently suspect no foul play in their deaths. Chief Hardman indicated that the couple likely died of hypothermia. The bodies will undergo autopsies in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to confirm the official cause of death.
Gary Lightfoot was a highly respected member of the law enforcement community. Lubbock reported that he previously worked for the Lamb County Sheriff’s Office and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, among other departments.Â
He also served as the Littlefield Police Chief for ten years, from 1993 to 2003. Tensions have been running high across Texas lately, with incidents like a violent Bass Pro Shops brawl making headlines in the state.
Published: Dec 3, 2025 10:30 am