Search-and-rescue efforts in Coopers Rock State Forest for missing Morgantown doctor John Lawson Magruder were suspended Monday after a three-day search of the area.
The search had been focused in that area after Magruder’s car was found at the park, but little else is known about his possible whereabouts and he did not communicate his plans with his family. He is described as a white male, 5-feet-11-inches, and weighing approximately 260 pounds.
According to profile information provided by WVU Medicine, Magruder is a Penn State College of Medicine graduate and is currently a child neurologist affiliated with WVU Medicine and assistant professor at WVU School of Medicine Pediatric Neurology Division. He has been practicing for eight years.
Since he was reported missing on July 27, current and former patients, as well as colleagues of the doctor, have expressed what a well-liked, positive person he is.
“Dr. Magruder is one-of-a-kind. You can’t help being in a great mood after leaving his office,” Dana Everett Crudup told The Dominion Post. “He is such a wonderful physician who always has a smile on his face.”
Local attorney Rachel Fetty said she has seen Magruder’s work as both the parent of a patient and an attorney assisting with child abuse or neglect cases, some of whom she said rely on Magruder for neurology services.
Fetty said there is an extreme shortage of neurologists like Magruder in West Virginia and it is very hard to get care for young people who are experiencing such a wide range of difficulties from epilepsy, trauma-related issues and even migraines.
“For children in the abuse and neglect system in many counties in West Virginia, it is a real loss to not have him be available. He is really a remarkable physician and person,” Fetty said. “He is very kind and patient and good with young people.”
The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release Monday afternoon that search parties had searched over 842 acres of the park since Friday and had dedicated 1,000 man hours to finding the missing man.
Multiple law enforcement and search-and-rescue agencies assisted with the search, including Granville, Morgantown and West Virginia University police departments, as well as Mountaineer Area Rescue Group, Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group, Maryland Search and Rescue, Northwest Pennsylvania K9 Search and Rescue and the Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference Remote Support Corps.
Additional details on the extent of the search and reasons it was suspended were not released. The Dominion Post had not received a response from sheriff department officials in time for this report.
Even though the Coopers Rock search has been suspended, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office said investigators will continue to follow up on all leads and anyone who has information is asked to call the office at 304-291-7260.
The Dominion Post will continue to follow this story and provide any available updates.
