Additional Coverage:
Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton is reportedly missing from her Texas home, which has been described as deserted and in disarray. This follows her arrest last week for suspected driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Police reports indicate the 57-year-old was slurring her speech and refused a blood test.
Retton’s arrest comes just two years after a serious health scare where she battled a life-threatening pneumonia and spent weeks in intensive care. Now, concerns are mounting as family members in her native West Virginia say they haven’t heard from her in nearly a month. Neighbors report that Retton hasn’t been seen at her Texas residence for several weeks, with packages and mail piling up untouched.
While a source close to the family mentioned that communication is infrequent, they were still surprised by her arrest, learning about it through public channels rather than from Retton herself. Apparently, she had returned to her hometown without informing them. The source emphasized that there wasn’t a family rift, simply a lack of recent contact.
This is the latest challenge in a difficult period for Retton. Two years ago, her daughters launched a fundraiser that garnered nearly $500,000 to help with medical expenses during her pneumonia battle. The family later faced criticism over the lack of transparency regarding the funds, which Retton defended, dismissing the concerns as negativity from “trolls.”