The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia announced on Tuesday that investigators believe Johnny Roop, the missing 20-year-old Virginia Tech student, left the region on his own accord.
According to the sheriff’s office, interviews with friends and family, along with surveillance footage, led them to the conclusion that Roop’s behavior on the day he went missing was inconsistent with his normal patterns.
Roop was reported missing on Friday, prompting a search effort and public appeals for information. The sheriff’s office now believes he likely traveled alone toward southwest Virginia or Tennessee.
Virginia Tech Student, Johnny Roop (Credits: NY Post)
Despite the new development, there is no immediate indication that Roop is in danger, and investigators will continue to follow leads to make contact with him and confirm his safety.
The Virginia Tech student was last seen at his apartment complex in Merrimac, Montgomery County, about 4.5 miles from the university’s campus in Blacksburg.
His phone pinged at a shopping mall around 2 miles south of his apartment, approximately half an hour before he was scheduled to begin an exam at his parent’s home in Abingdon, which is about 100 miles west of the mall.
Surveillance video captured Roop in Christiansburg, a town about 3 miles south of the mall, until approximately an hour before his phone pinged.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information about Johnny Roop’s whereabouts to come forward. The focus is on confirming his safety and well-being as the circumstances surrounding his disappearance become clearer.
