SUSPICIOUS DEATH
CASE #: 2023-6
John Forsyth
Status:
Solved
Date of Death:
Date of Death:
Jurisdiction:
Cassville Police Department
Death Location:
Cassville, MO
Case Disposition:
The death of a highly regarded Missouri emergency room doctor whose body was found 11 months ago in a northwest Arkansas lake has been ruled a suicide, Arkansas authorities said Thursday, in a case that fueled social media speculation about whether his disappearance had been tied to his cryptocurrency dealings. Dr. John Forsyth, 49, was last seen nearly a year ago near the RV that he parked at the Cassville, Missouri, hospital where he worked. The father of eight who was engaged to be married didn't show up for his shift at Mercy Hospital on May 21, 2023, prompting a search. There was no sign of him until a kayaker found his body May 30 in Arkansas' Beaver Lake, about 20 miles south of the hospital.
Summary:
Dr. John Forsyth, 49, was last seen alive on May 21, 2023 at 7am when security cameras in the parking lot of a public pool in Cassville, Missouri show him getting into another vehicle after leaving his own car unlocked with his wallet, two phones, a laptop, and other items inside. 49-year-old Forsyth managed to work 80-100 hours a week at Cassville Mercy’s ER while simultaneously founding a side business in the cryptocurrency space.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Death:
A search began after the emergency room physician didn't show up for his May 21st shift at Mercy Hospital in Cassville. There was no sign of Forsyth until a kayaker noticed his body in Arkansas on May 30 at Beaver Lake, some 20 miles from his last known location. His body had an apparent gunshot wound, authorities in Arkansas said. Family members said John Forsyth was a devoted father to his eight kids and seemed happier than he'd been in a long time and was also newly engaged with a baby on the way. They said he never missed a day of work and would often sleep in an RV outside the hospital when he was on call.
Additional Details:
Richard Forsyth (brother) told news outlets that his brother had made statements in the past that in hindsight could be considered concerning. "On several occasions, he’s talked about scenarios … (in case) he wasn’t around anymore,” Richard Forsyth told CNN. "Continuity plans." In the days following Forsyth’s disappearance, a friend came forward with a story from the year before. Forsyth had claimed he’d been kidnapped, bound with zip ties, and threatened. However, he never reported the incident to the police. Now, his family wondered if history had repeated itself. Only 10 days before his disappearance, a judge had finalized Forsyth’s divorce — his second from the same woman. The split was amicable, according to family members and the ex-wife’s attorney, Ryan Ricketts, who said she was “devastated” by the doctor’s death.
Case Last Updated:
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