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Couple Found Frozen After Thanksgiving Disappearance
31 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Elderly couple disappeared on Thanksgiving Day, found days later.
- Vehicle found on private property in New Mexico, off the road.
- Police suspect death from cold; autopsy results pending.
An elderly couple from Lubbock, Texas, Linda and Gary Lightfoot, aged 81 and 82, went missing on Thanksgiving Day. They were last seen leaving Panhandle, Texas, after a family gathering, intending to return home for the roughly three-hour drive.
Their vehicle was later spotted on camera in New Mexico, with cellular data indicating their last known location near Santa Rosa. Five days after their disappearance, on December 2, a farmer discovered their car on his property in Tucumcari, New Mexico. The couple was found deceased inside the vehicle, which had a flat tire and its trunk open.
Authorities do not suspect foul play, as there were no signs of trauma and a firearm and cash were found in the car. The primary suspected cause of death is exposure to the cold, with temperatures in the low 20s during the nights they were missing. An autopsy is expected within two to three months.
