Olympic gold medalist and Montgomery County native Dominique Dawes has shared a heart-wrenching update regarding her missing father-in-law, Leonard Thompson. On Saturday evening, Dawes announced the sad news that Thompson had passed away, expressing gratitude and remembrance after a challenging week marked by public appeals for assistance in locating him.
In a heartfelt statement, Dawes expressed, “We take comfort in knowing that he is now with our Lord and Savior. Thank you all for the prayers and support during this very difficult time. Our last moment with him was accompanying him at mass and giving him a hug, and my husband and I said, ‘Get home safely’… Rest in Peace, Papa T.”
Earlier during the week, Dawes had reached out to the public for help when Thompson was reported missing, leading to the issuance of a Critically Missing Adult Alert by the Virginia State Police. She shared a video on social media, urging people to be vigilant and disseminate the information as authorities searched diligently for him.
Authorities had reported that Leonard Hugh Thompson was 79 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed approximately 160 pounds, had white hair, blue eyes, and wore glasses. It was believed he might be disoriented due to a possible health episode.
Thompson was last seen on Tuesday evening, December 15, around 7:30 p.m. in Herndon, Virginia. His vehicle was subsequently found abandoned in Roanoke. Investigators speculated that he may have been picked up by a truck, potentially traveling south on Interstate 81, which might have resulted in him being on foot in the Roanoke area, including near Troutville and Salem.
As the search progressed, Dawes had widened the search area and reiterated her plea for the public to share information, emphasizing serious concerns for Thompson’s health and safety. The family’s fears were met with a coordinated multi-agency search endeavor, as Virginia State Police highlighted that Thompson’s disappearance posed a credible threat to his well-being.
Following the heartbreaking news of his death, the family has received an outpouring of condolences and messages of support online, with many expressing gratitude for the community’s prayers and efforts during the search. They have requested continued prayers as they navigate through their grief over the loss of Leonard Thompson.