*Olympic gymnastics champion Dominique Dawes is facing a personal loss after her father-in-law was found dead in southwestern Virginia following a five-day search. The discovery occurred Saturday, Dec. 20, bringing an end to a tense period of uncertainty for the family.
According to USA Today, the discovery occurred Saturday, Dec. 20, and authorities identified the man as 79-year-old Leonard Hugh Thompson of Herndon, Virginia. Earlier in the week, his car was located on Interstate 81 near Roanoke with a flat tire and the keys missing. The circumstances that led to his disappearance remain under investigation.
During the search, Dawes posted on social media asking for help locating Thompson. She shared that the family feared he “has had a health episode and is disoriented and confused.”
Please help my family find my father-in-law. He has been missing for days—-last seen Monday evening in Winchester, Virginia, car left abandoned with a flat tire in Roanoke, Virginia Tuesday early morning. Law-enforcement is suspecting that he was picked up by a trucker. He was… pic.twitter.com/OFHLb3zRGo
— Dominique Dawes (@dominiquedawes) December 20, 2025
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Her full post on X stated: “Please help my family find my father-in-law. He has been missing for days—-last seen Monday evening in Winchester, Virginia, car left abandoned with a flat tire in Roanoke, Virginia Tuesday early morning. Law-enforcement is suspecting that he was picked up by a trucker. He was traveling 81 south. If you see him, please approach him. We believe he has had a health episode and is disoriented and confused. Please call 911. We are desperately in need of your help and need national exposure because we do not know where he is. Please share this post and keep my family in your prayers. God Bless!”
Late Saturday night, Dawes confirmed her father-in-law’s passing in an Instagram post. She shared a photo with the caption “Rest in Peace, Papa T,” and added, “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.”
Dawes and her husband, Jeff Thompson, have four children. The loss comes at a deeply personal moment for the family, and her posts emphasized both gratitude and faith amid grief.
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