The 14-year-old neighbor of David and Brenda Tapley made a tragic discovery after a tornado hit the town of Van, Texas on Sunday night, CBS DFW reported.
Emmanuel Vasquez grew concerned on Monday morning after he had not seen the retired police officer, his wife and their three dogs. He went over to their house to check on them and found their bodies a few feet from where their home used to stand. The couple had perished when their home was destroyed by the powerful tornado.
Vasquez’ father described that Tapley had one arm was around his dog and his other arm reaching out for his wife. The dog was no doubt alive thanks to David shielding him with his body. Sadly, the family’s other two dogs died during the storm as well.
The tornado struck fast, giving the townspeople only a short time to seek shelter. The EF3 tornado (storms are rated on a scale of 1 through 5) ripped through the city and is said to have damaged close to 100 homes, many of which were destroyed.
Vasquez’ father also spoke with the news channel and said that the loss of his neighbors is a reminder of how quickly life can slip away.
David and Brenda Tapley were both animal lovers and actively involved with the Van Methodist Church and in animal rescue in the area.
No further details have been released about the surviving dog, but there are rescue efforts underway to help the many homeless and lost dogs currently affected by the storms in East Texas.
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