A quiet Thanksgiving trip out of the Texas Panhandle has turned into a statewide search for Charles “Gary” Lightfoot, 82, and his wife Linda, 81, after the couple vanished on the road. The pair was last seen leaving the town of Panhandle last Thursday afternoon, believed to be heading toward Lubbock in a silver 2024 Toyota Camry with Texas license plate TWN0925.
Investigators say that the same Camry was reported in Groom last Thursday and then in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, last Friday, but where the couple went after that is anyone’s guess. Gary relies on oxygen, and authorities say the Lightfoots do not have cellphones, which has only heightened worries about their safety.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, as reported by FOX 4, a Silver Alert has been activated so that the car’s description, license plate, and other key details are pushed out to motorists and media across the region. Anyone who thinks they may have seen the Lightfoots or their vehicle is urged to call the Carson County Sheriff’s Office at 806-537-3511 or dial 911.
How Silver Alerts Work In Texas
The Texas Department of Public Safety explains that Silver Alerts are designed to quickly notify the public when an adult who is 65 or older, has a documented mental or cognitive impairment, and is believed to be in danger goes missing. The agency notes that requests for an alert are generally made within 72 hours of the person’s disappearance, and that highway message signs or other statewide systems may be activated when authorities have reliable vehicle information, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Car Tracked From Texas Into New Mexico
So far, the confirmed trail runs from Panhandle to Groom on Thanksgiving evening, then west into Santa Rosa the following day. After that, investigators say they simply do not know which direction the Lightfoots may have gone. State and local agencies are checking highways, rest areas, and familiar stopping points along plausible routes, while pushing out the vehicle description and plate number to drivers in the region.
How You Can Help
If you spot a silver 2024 Toyota Camry with Texas plate TWN0925, police say do not try to stop or follow the car yourself. Instead, call 911 right away or contact the Carson County Sheriff’s Office at 806-537-3511 and report the location, direction of travel, and time of the sighting. Motorists traveling between Panhandle, Lubbock, and the New Mexico state line are being asked to stay alert and report anything that could help bring the couple home safely.
