Barking from deceased LendingTree CEO’s own dog led first responders to corpse
The disappearance of LendingTree CEO Doug Lebda was brought to light by the alert barking of his loyal “little labradoodle”, leading first responders to his body after he went missing during an ATV ride on his North Carolina farm, as per 911 records released by authorities.
Lebda, a 55-year-old father of three and seasoned tech executive, was discovered trapped beneath his overturned ATV on his 277-acre property in Mill Spring on Oct. 12, according to officials in Polk County as reported by the Charlotte Observer.
A 911 call around 7:30 p.m. that day revealed that Lebda had left on the ATV approximately four hours earlier without his phone but accompanied by his dog.
“I need everybody because this owner has disappeared at this farm right here where the pond is,” the caller informed the dispatcher, according to county records cited by the Charlotte Observer.
The caller mentioned that he and others had been scouring the vast property when they suddenly heard barking in the distance.
“I heard that dog! He barked one time. He’s on that hill … There it was again,” the man described to the dispatcher, indicating the sound was coming from across a dam.
Deputies and emergency crews promptly arrived at the scene. At 8:06 p.m. — about 35 minutes after the call was placed — they located Lebda’s body, trapped under the overturned ATV.
His faithful dog remained nearby, according to Polk County records.
Investigations concluded that there were no signs of foul play, as stated by a county spokesperson.
Lebda acquired the extensive riverfront property for $2.75 million in July, fulfilling a longstanding dream of owning a rural retreat, as friends revealed in a report by the Charlotte Observer.
The entrepreneur, who founded LendingTree in 1996 after facing challenges securing his initial mortgage, frequently divided his time between Charlotte, N.C., and the farm.
LendingTree confirmed Lebda’s passing, labeling it a “devastating loss.”
The company described him as a “visionary leader whose relentless drive, innovation, and passion revolutionized the financial services sector, impacting the lives of millions of consumers.”
President and COO Scott Peyree was promptly appointed as Lebda’s successor, with longtime board member Steve Ozonian assuming the role of chairman.
“The news of losing Doug was devastating,” Peyree expressed, affirming that the company would continue to uphold his vision.
Lebda’s widow, Megan, expressed that it was “impossible to capture the depth of who Doug was and what he meant to all of us,” portraying her husband as compassionate and endlessly inquisitive.
“His energy was magnetic, his smile contagious, and his presence was a source of comfort and inspiration,” she added.
A public memorial for Lebda took place on Oct. 19 at Founders Hall in uptown Charlotte, where his daughters, Rachel and Abby, paid tribute to him as “the most incredible man” and assured, “Don’t worry, Dad. We have each other now.”
