The family of Dr. John Forsyth, an ER physician found dead in an Arkansas lake after a nine-day disappearance, revealed to Fox News Digital that he suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, ruling out suicide. His brother, Richard Forsyth, believes John was murdered on the day he vanished from Cassville, Missouri, suspecting a planned abduction.

“This was meticulously executed, and deeply disturbing,” Richard expressed, voicing concerns for his family’s safety. “We are left with unanswered questions and a gnawing sense of unease.”

John, 49, disappeared on May 21st after his morning shift at Mercy Hospital, leaving behind his eight-months-pregnant fiancée, Laura Barnett, and a distraught family who launched a public plea for information. His body was discovered by a kayaker in Beaver Lake, Arkansas, on May 30th. The investigating agencies—Missouri State Highway Patrol, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and Cassville Police Department—have remained tight-lipped about the details of their ongoing investigation, leaving the family in the dark.

John’s mother, Dixie Forsyth, shared a chilling anecdote in her first public statement, recalling John’s unsettling premonition a year prior. “He confided in me, saying he felt he wouldn’t live much longer,” she recounted. While he dismissed her concerns at the time, the memory now haunts her.

Dixie clung to hope until his body was identified, expressing the devastating impact of losing a child. John's father, Robert Forsyth, previously hinted at his son having “made some enemies” without elaborating further.

John, who reportedly amassed wealth through early bitcoin investments, had recently finalized his divorce and proposed to Barnett just days before his disappearance. He maintained an amicable relationship with his ex-wife and their seven children. His engagement to Barnett, a colleague at Mercy Hospital, was largely unknown to his family until after his disappearance. Both Barnett and John’s ex-wife attended his funeral alongside his children and approximately 150 others.

Adding to the mystery, Richard revealed a previously undisclosed kidnapping incident in early 2022. John was allegedly zip-tied and threatened, with the ordeal seemingly linked to cryptocurrency, though he never reported the crime or shared details. On the day he vanished, John texted Barnett saying he’d see her shortly after leaving the hospital. He was heading to his RV parked at the hospital, where his phone was later found charging. Surveillance footage showed his car at the Cassville Aquatic Center, with a white SUV briefly stopping beside it. John was seen walking away but not returning. His car, containing his wallet, phone, and passport, was discovered near a waste facility at the recreation center. Investigators retrieved five phones and a computer from the RV and car, which they were reportedly able to access.

The family remains bewildered and desperate for answers as the investigation continues.