Account
Mar 08, 2010
Jul 03, 2023
Jonathan
Dorey
36
22
70 inches
72 inches
180 lbs
185 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the late winter of 2010, a promising young man named Jonathan "Jonny" Dorey, a 22-year-old British exchange student, vanished from his life in Richmond, Virginia. A student at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), originally from the University of the West of England, Jonny was studying geography. He was last seen on the morning of March 2, 2010, leaving his dormitory, the Gladding Residence Center, with his distinctive black mountain bike at approximately 11:19 a.m. Friends grew worried when he missed classes and they were unable to reach him, as his cell phone had been turned off. Described as an accomplished mountain biker, it was not unusual for him to be out on his bike, a black Azonic Steelhead with a red-striped seat. He was last seen wearing a blue and white plaid hooded jacket, dark blue skinny jeans, and black shoes. The days following Jonny's disappearance were filled with urgent activity as a search was launched by the VCU Police Department, soon joined by numerous other agencies including the FBI. His friends and family, including his parents and brother who flew in from their home in Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, distributed fliers and scoured areas he was known to frequent, particularly the bike trails near the James River. The search took a significant turn on March 24th when a passerby discovered Jonny's navy blue Eastpak backpack, some of his clothing, and his shoes near the James River in the Shockoe Bottom area of Richmond. This discovery prompted extensive searches of the river, but initially, no further clues were found. A witness later came forward, reporting that they had seen a man matching Jonny's description swimming in the river on the afternoon he disappeared, a day marked by cold, rainy weather mixed with snow. The investigation continued for months, with authorities pulling several bodies from the James River, none of which were identified as Jonathan Dorey. As time passed, hope of finding Jonny alive began to fade for his family. Based on personal writings found on his computer and the circumstances of his disappearance, his parents came to the heartbreaking conclusion that he had likely taken his own life. They held a news conference to speak about the importance of mental health awareness and recognizing the signs of depression in young people. Although his family held a ceremony in his memory back in England, the official investigation into his disappearance remains open. The case of Jonathan Dorey is a somber reminder of the silent struggles many face, leaving a family with unanswered questions and a community with a sense of loss for a bright young man who vanished far from home.
Mar 02, 2010
Richmond
Virginia
Richmond City
No
2791
Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department
Richmond
Virginia
Richmond City
23284
David Kelly
Detective
224 East Broad Street, Virginia
8048281196
Local
Law Enforcement
Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department
Brown
Green
Green
06/17/2026
