Johnny Roop: Search launched for Virginia Tech student after he fails to make it home, pals suspect foul play

MERRIMAC, VIRGINIA: The 20-year-old Virginia Tech student who unexpectedly disappeared on Friday, February 16, is still missing.

Deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office are currently looking for Johnny Roop, who was last spotted at his apartment complex in Merrimac on Friday, as per the New York Post.

Additional details about Roop's disappearance have emerged as the investigation progressed. Roop's friends also mentioned his sense of unease in his stomach the last time they saw him.

What happened to Johnny Roop?

According to school officials, Johnny Roop was supposed to be at his parents' home in Abingdon by 5 pm that day to take an online exam, but he never arrived.

He was expected to make the roughly one-hour-and-forty-minute drive to reach there on time.

However, officials stated that his phone was last detected near the New River Valley Mall at 4.26 pm on Friday, February 16. 

Recognizing Roop

The college student reportedly has blond hair and hazel eyes and is 6'3" tall.

He was driving a black 2018 Toyota Camry with Virginia license plate number "TXW6643" and a Virginia Tech sticker on the rear window.

John Roop's friends and family express concerns

Isaac Childress, a childhood friend, expressed concern after learning that Roop hadn't been seen or heard from in days. 

“John is not the kind of guy that just goes missing, You have some buddies you don’t hear from in a couple days and it’s just the norm, they do their own thing, but Johnny, he is a family and friend-oriented man” he added.

Roop's mother shared on Facebook that her son's phone had been inactive for at least two days, which she found highly unusual. She appealed for assistance in locating him.

"So many things just unturned... why was he at the Christiansburg mall with his phone like 20 minutes before the test if he was leaving from Blacksburg to Abingdon at 10 o’clock in the morning? That is when his friends said that he left," remarked Childress on the perplexing circumstances.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who spots Roop's vehicle or has information about his disappearance to contact their investigators at 540-382-4343.