The brother of a Missouri doctor found dead on Tuesday in a lake in Arkansas said his death is being investigated as a homicide.
John Forsyth’s brother told KOLR that Arkansas authorities are leading the homicide investigation, while Missouri authorities are investigating the missing person aspect of the case. The brother said that Forsyth, who was found shot, did not own a gun.
“At this point, it looks like he was abducted and killed and thrown into a lake,” he told KOLR. “Just looking at it from my point of view, that’s what it seems like.”
A kayaker reportedly found Forsyth’s body in Beaver Lake, Arkansas, on Tuesday. The lake is about an hour from where he was last seen on May 21. Officials have not disclosed where on his body he was shot.
As Crime Online reported, Forsyth’s unlocked car was found abandoned at Cassville Aquatic Park in Missouri after he was a no-show for a shift at Mercy Hospital, a mile away from the park.
Forsyth reportedly stayed in a trailer not far from the hospital when he worked in Cassville. Forsyth is believed to have briefly gone to his trailer after leaving the hospital.
Forsyth’s keys were in his car when it was found at the park’s waste area. His two phones were recovered from his trailer — which Fox reported was also unlocked. His wallet and laptop were left behind as well.
Forsyth’s family reportedly reviewed surveillance which apparently showed Forsyth and another car around the time of his disappearance.
“We have the white vehicle leaving about three minutes after that and then 10 to 15 minutes after that, someone looking quite a bit like my brother, the image is a bit blurry, exiting his car,” Forsyth’s brother told KOLR. “The clothing he was wearing fits his last known description, [walked] around a bit and then walk away
Previously, Forsyth’s brother told Fox News that the doctor was kidnapped during a February 2022 incident in which he was zip-tied, driven to a bridge, and threatened. He said his brother was released, but he never filed a police report because he still feared for his safety.
Forsyth, who was a father of eight, reportedly proposed to his fiancée three days before he vanished. Police said Forsyth stopped responding to text messages after texting his fiancée he would see her soon.
Forsyth’s brother told Fox that he proposed days after his divorce settlement was finalized. The ex-wife would reportedly receive $19,000 a month in alimony and child support, but Forsyth’s brother said their relationship was amicable.
“There’s no way he killed himself,” he told Fox. “He was full of optimism. He had a great life.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Featured image: John Forsyth/Cassville Police Department]
