QUAY COUNTY, N.M. (KFDA) – An incident report from the Quay County Sheriff’s Office details the search timeline for the missing Lubbock couple who was found dead in New Mexico.
Linda and Gary Lightfoot went missing Thanksgiving Day after spending time with family in Panhandle.
Today, NewsChannel 10 obtained the incident report from law enforcement detailing the timeline of the search for the couple.
Initial calls related to the search efforts began around 4 p.m. on November 28.
Texas Rangers provided a timeline of the couple’s travel:
November 27 @ 3:00 PM CT – Departed Panhandle, TxNovember 27 @ 6:20 PM CT – License plate reader hit: Eastbound I-40, Amarillo, TXNovember 27 6:55 PM CT – License plate reader hit: Front Street, Groom, TXNovember 27 @ 7:03 PM CT – Second plate reader hit: Front Street, Groom, TXNovember 27 @ 8:36 PM MI – License plate reader hit I-40 MM 350 Westbound, near San Jon, NMNovember 27 @ 9:05 PM MI – Law enforcement contact: Santa Rosa Police Department, Santa Rosa, NMNovember 28 @ 1:02 AM MI – Flock camera hit: Santa Rosa, NMNovember 28 – 3:00 AM to 11:00 AM MI – Cellular activity detected from vehicle; tower coordinates: 35. 1216389, -103. 940528′7
On December 2, the report says officials were called to meet with a man regarding the sighting of a silver vehicle on their ranch, located west of Tucumcari.
The man told law enforcement a ranch employee had seen a silver car with its trunk open, partially concealed among trees on the property while tending cattle.
Law enforcement approached the car and saw two people lying at the rear of the car. The vehicle matched the description of the one associated with the Lightfoots.
Officials identified Gary and Linda Lightfoot as the couple.
The report says the car’s battery appeared to be drained, and the gear shift was still in “Drive.”
The front driver-side tire was flat and shredded, indicating it had been driven while flat.
The report says there were no visible signs of trauma to either person and no suspected foul play.
Two blank envelopes inside the car contained around $311 in cash.
A Smith & Weson .38 caliber revolver was in the center console, loaded with five unspent rounds.
The report shows temperatures reached lows in the 20’s that weekend, not including the wind chill.
Family says Linda and Gary will be remembered for “a true genuine love for their friends and family.”
Services for the Lightfoots are scheduled this Friday in Lubbock.
The Quay County Sheriff says at this time the cause of death for the couple has not been determined.
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