Listeners show support for missing Wild 94.9 DJ as station shares 'incredibly worrisome' updates

ByLyanne Melendez KGO logo

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Wild 94.9 shares 'incredibly worrisome' updates on missing DJ

Bay Area radio listeners are showing their support in the search for missing DJ 'JV' as Wild 94.9 shares updates that are "incredibly worrisome."

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The whereabouts of a popular Bay Area radio host are still unknown and on Monday his employer announced there has been no activity on his cell phone or credit cards.

Jeffrey Vandergrift, also known as "JV," was last seen at 10 p.m. Thursday at his home on King Street in San Francisco.

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On Monday, it was a somber morning show on Wild 94.9 as his on-air co-workers weighed in, following Vandergrift's disappearance.

"So incredibly difficult, it's difficult for all of us obviously," expressed co-host Graham.

Police said the popular co-host was considered "at risk" after posting a message that started by saying "Thank you for a wonderful life, filed with joy, laughs, pain and struggle..."

Since then there has been no communication from him.

"Same thing with credit cards, banking statements, there's been nothing there. No activity and it's really scary," said another co-host Selena.

Police spoke briefly about this case Monday afternoon.

"Our investigation involves trying to see any clues for the usage of electronics, seeing the usage of his electronic funds and we're not disclosing any of that information that we may or may not have found but that is part of the investigation, said Officer Roberto Rueca with the San Francisco Police Department.

Vandergrift had openly talked about being diagnosed with a severe case of Lyme disease which often gave him "brain fog."

"Brain fog is just the inability to remember things, you just don't feel quite right," explained Linda Giampa, executive director of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation.

The foundation told us they are grateful to JV for speaking out about the disease.

"That made it easier for him to bring to his audience and easier for it to be real and it is real, added Giampa.

His fans tuned in this morning, hoping to get more information on his whereabouts.

"I'm keeping hope alive," said one listener.

"JV, if you're out there listening, we love you buddy," said another.

"Let's continue to please think of his wife, his family, his mom, his sister, his brother, his nephews, his goddaughter, everyone," one of the radio hosts said.

Vandergrift is described as a white man who is about 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, and is bald with brown eyes. He has several tattoos, including on his arms and above his right ear, and was last seen wearing black sweatpants, police said.

Anyone who sees Vandergrift is asked to call 911 and report his location and description. People with possible information about his whereabouts can call the SFPD tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the start of the message.