Nicolas Lestrer lost his wife to cancer Wednesday afternoon. The grieving man walked away from his home Thursday.
HOUSTON — We have a sad ending to the search for a missing 81-year-old man. Nicolas Lestrer, who was reported missing on Thursday morning, was found dead on Friday.
His family says he died of a broken heart. Lestrer went missing the day after his wife of 53 years, who had been in hospice care battling cancer, died. He reportedly walked out of his house and that was the last time he was seen.
His family said he was distraught and couldn’t handle losing the love of his life. Though devastated, the family finds comfort in knowing that “Nico” and Cristina are now together.
Nico was originally from Sweden and moved to Houston in the 1970s, where he opened the city’s first Volvo mechanic shop.
It was in Houston that he met Cristina, a dedicated hairdresser, and the love of his life.
They are survived by their three adult children, including one with special needs. The family says Nico and Cristina shared a life filled with love, laughter, and purpose.
Nico also proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
Both will be remembered for their humor, warmth, and the full life they lived together.
The family would like to thank Texas EquuSearch for their help in locating Nico.
The Texas Center for the Missing had issued a Houston Regional Silver Alert, and Texas EquuSearch volunteers launched a ground search, focusing on areas near Buffalo Bayou. Search teams worked overnight and resumed efforts Friday morning using ATVs and boats. Neighbors helped search too.