The family of US Olympic hero Dominique Dawes is in mourning after it was confirmed that the gymnast’s father-in-law was found dead.
Dawes, who won team gold at the Atlanta Games in 1996, posted a heartbreaking plea for help on Saturday, revealing that Leonard Hugh Thompson had ‘been missing for days.’
She feared he had suffered ‘a health episode and is disoriented and confused,’ with the family ‘desperately in need of help.’
But police in Virginia confirmed that the body of the 79-year-old was found over the weekend, with Dawes posting a heartbreaking tribute to ‘Papa T’ following his death.
‘We are holding on to the memories,’ she wrote. ‘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 continued: ‘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.
The father-in-law of US Olympic hero Dominique Dawes was found dead over the weekend
‘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.’
Dawes revealed on Saturday that Thompson had last been seen Monday evening in Winchester, Virginia. His car had been ‘left abandoned with a flat tire.’
The 49-year-old, who also won bronze medals at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics, explained: ‘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.’
