Missing woman died of exposure
Posted/updated on: February 10, 2026 at 4:06 pm
UPDATE: The Wood County Sheriff’s Office said that a missing woman was found dead in a wooded area on Saturday morning. Dispatch received a call on Friday night about an abandoned car they saw stuck on a Wood County Electric Cooperative power line right of way path near County Road 4539 according to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK.
The car was determined to belong to 76-year-old Laurie Harberson who was last seen on Jan. 23 near Winnsboro. Deputies searched the area around the car on Friday night but nothing was found until a more intensive search with UTV’s and a K9 was done on Saturday morning. Harberson was found dead during the Saturday morning search, about a half mile away from the right of way path in a densely wooded area. The sheriff’s office believes she died of exposure to the recent winter weather that came through East Texas.
WOOD COUNTY — The Wood County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing elderly woman last seen Jan. 23. According to our news partner KETK, 76-year-old Laurie Harberson was last seen driving on County Road 4560 near Winnsboro.
Authorities said Harberson was driving a white 2019 Honda HR-V with license plate LMS0086 and a silver Longhorns sticker on the back. They add she left home without her cellphone or wallet and may be in a confused state. Anyone with information about Harberson’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Wood County Sheriff’s Office at 903-763-2201.
