An elderly Texas couple’s Thanksgiving trip ended in tragedy after Charles and Linda Lightfoot vanished on their drive home and were later found dead in remote eastern New Mexico. A massive multi-state search was launched, but their car was eventually discovered stuck in a tree line with a dead battery, and the couple was found nearby. With no signs of foul play, authorities believe hypothermia may be the cause. Charles, a veteran and longtime law enforcement officer, was remembered for his decades of service to his community.
The same weekend, a second heartbreaking loss occurred when teens Anneka Wilson and Leo Shepherd were killed in a fiery head-on crash in Salt Lake City caused by a wrong-way, impaired driver. The young couple, traveling to visit family for Thanksgiving, died at the scene, while the 21-year-old driver responsible now faces multiple charges. Loved ones remembered Anneka and Leo for their kindness, bright futures, and deep love for others — lives cut tragically short.