Missing Surgeon’s Body Discovered in Spokane River in Washington State

The body of a surgeon who went missing was pulled from Spokane River on Tuesday.

“Through visual identification and clothing, we have preliminarily identified the deceased as the missing VA doctor,” Interim Spokane Police Chief Rick Dobrow said.

Police say they are investigating Marshall’s death as “suspicious,” reported KHQ.

Dr. John Marshall, who was the acting chief of surgery at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, was reported missing after going on an early morning run in the same area that the body was found.

Statement from Dobrow on ID of body. Says clothing matches description put out about Marshall @KHQLocalNews pic.twitter.com/m22CbYV0Qp — Cynthia Johnson (@KHQcjohnson) January 26, 2016

Marshall’s family was notified by staff at the VA hospital when he didn’t report for work.

His wife, Suzan, told KREM her husband typically went for a run in the area at 5:30 a.m., but this time he didn’t come back. Before the body was found, she was optimistic that he’d be found safe.

Surveillance images from the nearby YMCA showed him checking in and out. His car was still in the parking lot, and his phone, wallet, keys, and gym bag were in a cubby in the YMCA, reported the Spokesman Review.

Dr. Marshall, 49, was a 4th-generation marine who served in Afghanistan and had undergone survival training.