Cassville doctor seen on surveillance riding bike to Beaver Lake

BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Eleven months after his body was found in Beaver Lake in Arkansas, a ruling has been made in the death of Dr. John Forsyth, former Mercy Cassville emergency room physician.

In a Thursday press release from Lt. Shannon Jenkins, public information officer for the Benton County (Ark.) Sheriff’s Office, Dr. Theodore Brown, chief medical examiner released a report on April 18 finding Forsyth died of a gunshot wound to the head, with the manner of death being ruled as suicide.

“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,” Jenkins said. “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 us to dispute the medical examiner’s findings. If objective and relevant physical evidence becomes available, those leads will be investigated on a case-by-case basis. 

“The Benton County Sheriff’s is finalizing investigative tasks before the official closing of this case. Until the case has been closed, it is considered open, and all other information will not be released.”

Forsyth was last seen at 7 a.m. on May 21 after an overnight shift at Mercy, not returning for his overnight shift that night. Police were first alerted to his disappearance after 10 p.m.

Forsyth’s vehicle was found inside the yard waste fencing at the park’s south end, partially visible inside the gated entrance. He was last seen walking toward his RV, which was parked at Mercy.

Forsyth was located in Beaver Lake near Lost Bridge South on May 30.

Benton County investigated the death with assistance from the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, Cassville Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol.