Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes shared sad news with her fans. Her father-in-law has died. This came just hours after she asked for the public’s help to find him.
Dawes is married to Jeff Thompson. They got married on May 25, 2013. Together they have four children.
A Public Plea for Help
On Saturday, December 20, Dawes posted on social media. She said her father-in-law, Leonard Thompson, was missing. She asked everyone to share her post.
She wrote that Leonard was 79 years old. He had white hair. She said he may have had a health episode and was confused. He was last seen in Winchester, Virginia. His car was found abandoned in Roanoke, Virginia. Police thought a trucker might have picked him up on Interstate 81 heading south.
“Please help my family,” she wrote. “Anything you can do to share this post… so that my kids can see their grandfather again.”
The Heartbreaking Update
Only a few hours later, Dawes posted again. She shared the sad news that Leonard Thompson had been found dead.
She posted a photo of him holding one of her sons as a baby. Over the photo, she wrote, “Rest in Peace, Papa T. We are holding on to the memories.”
In her caption, she explained further. “It is with a very heavy heart that I report my father-in-law has been found and not in the way that we had hoped for.”
She said the family finds comfort knowing he is with God. She thanked everyone for their prayers and support. She also shared a memory of their last moment together. It was at church. She and her husband hugged him and said, “Get home safely.”
Community Support and Official Report
Many people sent love to Dawes’s family in the comments. They shared their sadness and offered prayers.
According to a news report from December 21, Leonard Hugh Thompson’s body was found in southwestern Virginia. He had been missing for five days. His car was found earlier on Interstate 81 near Roanoke. It had a flat tire and no keys inside. Police have not released more details about his death.
The family is grieving during this difficult time.