Johnny Roop, a Virginia Tech student who was reported missing last week, was found at a Missouri restaurant Wednesday and drove away alone, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said in an update.
According to authorities, sheriff’s office investigators followed Roop to a restaurant in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, on Wednesday afternoon. He was alone and left the restaurant when an employee identified him. The 20-year-old drove away unaccompanied in his car.
Police in Missouri were notified and attempted to locate him “without success,” the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said. On Thursday, they continued their search for Roopa.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(499x0:501x2)/Johnny-Roop-Update-022224-3-89abba02080d4888bc95a3f91ce8a1a6.jpg)
Johnny Roop’s car seen in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on February 21.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
“While there are many unanswered questions, based on this personal sighting, we believe that Mr. Roop is acting alone and traveling of his own volition,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “We appreciate the cooperation of law enforcement organizations, businesses and the public during this investigation.”
Roop’s mother, Veronica Widener, told ABC News that her son’s disappearance was “completely out of his nature.”
“What worries us now is that there’s something that we’re just not aware of, that maybe mentally snapped. And I have no idea what that could be,” Widener said. “We just want to locate him and make sure he’s okay.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(996x0:998x2)/Johnny-Roop-Update-022224-2-5765b80fe4d24f6480382f20beb7119f.jpg)
Johnny Roop.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Roop is a senior at Virginia Tech’s business school and is scheduled to graduate in May. His mom told ABC News that he wants a career in financial planning.
Widener said she last communicated with Roopa on February 14, when they sent each other Valentine’s Day messages.
In an interview with NBC WSLS, Widener shared a message for her son.
“We’re all here for you no matter what’s going on,” she said. “We’re here and all you have to do is call. You know, wherever you are, I’ll be there. I’ll get to you.”
Roop was last seen at his apartment complex in Montgomery County on Friday, Feb. 16, the university and the sheriff’s office said Monday. He drove to his parents’ home in Abington, Virginia for an online exam at 5 p.m. local time, but never made it.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(344x0:346x2)/Johnny-Roop-Update-022224-1-350e36bfd97a49b495a450162ff90b8a.jpg)
Johnny Roop.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Human remains found at the bottom of a cliff identified as a retired nurse missing for more than 3 months
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The university said Monday that a student’s phone received a ping at the New River Valley Mall on Friday at 4:26 p.m. His car is a black 2018 Toyota Camry with Virginia license plate TXW6643 and a Virginia Tech flag sticker on the back.
“We have not received any information that would lead us to believe that he is in immediate danger; however, due to the fact that Mr. Roop appears to be acting outside of his normal behavior, we would like to make contact with him to confirm that he is indeed okay,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement Tuesday.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 540-382-4343.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education