Missing Cassville Physician Death Ruled a Suicide
May 1, 2024
By Adriana Keeton, [email protected]
Arkansas State Crime Lab Chief Medical Examiner Theodore Brown rules Mercy Hospital-Cassville Physician John Forsyth’s death a suicide.
Dr. John Forsyth was reported missing when he did not report to work at Mercy Hospital-Cassville on the evening of May 21, 2023. His car was later found unlocked in the yard waste disposal area of South Park in Cassville with the keys and personal belongings left in the vehicle.
According to a press release from Lieutenant Shannon Jenkins with the Benton County, Arkansas, Sheriff’s Office on May 30, 2023, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a body found floating in Beaver Lake near Lost Bridge South. Through the initial investigation, it was determined to be the body of missing person, Dr. John Forsyth. Forsyth’s body was released to the Arkansas State Crime Lab where an autopsy was performed by Dr. Theodore Brown, Chief Medical Examiner for the Arkansas State Crime Lab. On April 18, 2024, the Arkansas State Crime Lab released an autopsy report finding that John Forsyth died of a gunshot wound to the head, with the manner of death being ruled a suicide.
According to the press release, through the investigation, Benton County Detectives were able to locate several surveillance videos of Forsyth riding a bicycle to the area of Lost Bridge at Beaver Lake in Arkansas. That bicycle was located near the area where Forsyth’s body was found. Detectives have not been able to find any information or evidence that would lead them to dispute the medical examiners findings. They did state if objective and relevant physical evidence becomes available, those leads will be investigated on a case-by-case basis. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is finalizing investigative tasks before the official closing of the case. Until the case has been closed, it is considered open, and all other information will not be released.
Dr. John Forsyth was reported missing when he did not report to work at Mercy Hospital-Cassville on the evening of May 21, 2023. His car was later found unlocked in the yard waste disposal area of South Park in Cassville with the keys and personal belongings left in the vehicle.
According to a press release from Lieutenant Shannon Jenkins with the Benton County, Arkansas, Sheriff’s Office on May 30, 2023, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a body found floating in Beaver Lake near Lost Bridge South. Through the initial investigation, it was determined to be the body of missing person, Dr. John Forsyth. Forsyth’s body was released to the Arkansas State Crime Lab where an autopsy was performed by Dr. Theodore Brown, Chief Medical Examiner for the Arkansas State Crime Lab. On April 18, 2024, the Arkansas State Crime Lab released an autopsy report finding that John Forsyth died of a gunshot wound to the head, with the manner of death being ruled a suicide.
According to the press release, through the investigation, Benton County Detectives were able to locate several surveillance videos of Forsyth riding a bicycle to the area of Lost Bridge at Beaver Lake in Arkansas. That bicycle was located near the area where Forsyth’s body was found. Detectives have not been able to find any information or evidence that would lead them to dispute the medical examiners findings. They did state if objective and relevant physical evidence becomes available, those leads will be investigated on a case-by-case basis. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is finalizing investigative tasks before the official closing of the case. Until the case has been closed, it is considered open, and all other information will not be released.
