The wife of missing San Francisco radio DJ Jeffrey ‘JV’ Vandergrift has finally spoken out to share her heartbreak and tell the public that officials believe ‘JV will not be coming back.’
Natasha Yi shared a statement late Wednesday evening to describe the ‘unbearable pain’ she is feeling as her husband remains missing a week after his disappearance.
‘JV and I have always considered this community part of our family, so I want to let you know that personal information has recently been discovered that leads us to believe JV will not be coming back,’ Yi wrote Wednesday evening.
Vandergrift, 54, first went missing on February 23 from his home in the 200 block of King Street in San Francisco, just hours after he described mysterious brain issues he was experiencing.
The radio DJ sparked red flags on his Instagram the day he disappeared after editing the caption of a months-old post to use past tense language and thanking his fans for a ‘wonderful life.’
The wife of missing San Francisco radio DJ Jeffrey ‘JV’ Vandergrift has finally spoken out to share her heartbreak and tell the public officials believe ‘JV will not be coming back’
This is the Instagram post whose captioned was changed, sparking concern
This is the statement Natasha Yi – wife of JV Vandergrift – released on Instagram Wednesday
After he vanished, fans pointed out that the Wild 94.9 host had edited an Instagram caption to use past-tense language and thanked fans for their years of love and support
In her statement Wednesday, Yi – a playboy style model with more than 16 million followers on Facebook – thanked fans and their ‘radio family’ for their thoughts and prayers during this time.
‘Thank you to our friends and the entire i-HeartRadio family and listeners for your love, support and prayers. I can feel your love and energy for JV, and I am so grateful for it,’ she wrote.
The wife said she and her husband have felt ‘the amount of compassion’ fans have given as Vandergrift has fought health issues over the last two years.
According to a post made back in 2021, the radio DJ was diagnosed with Lyme disease. He took some time off to deal with the illness.
She continued, saying she wants to keep the public updated, even as her heart is breaking and she is in ‘incredible pain.’
‘I have been in so much pain and fear and I know all of you have been so scared and concerned for JV as well,’ she wrote.
‘JV and I have always considered this community part of our family, so I want to let you know that personal information has recently been discovered that leads us to believe JV will not be coming back.
‘I tell you this with incredible pain and sadness in my heart,’ Yi said.
Yi said police do not believe foul play is suspected and that she is working consistently with the San Francisco Police Department to find her husband.
‘At this time, JV officially remains missing according to the SFPD, but no foul play is suspected in his disappearance.
‘We are incredibly appreciative for the SFPD’s ongoing efforts in locating JV and they have asked us to keep the details to immediate family only,’ she wrote.
Heartbreakingly, the wife also shared her own condolences to fans, saying: ‘I know how painful this is for you to hear – please know that I have you in my thoughts.’
She concluded her message by asking for forgiveness for her ‘silence during this time,’ as her heart is ‘utterly broken, and the pain feels unbearable.’
‘I will do my best to provide updates and I ask for you to please keep JV in your thoughts and prayers,’ Yi wrote.
She also attached the phone number for the San Francisco Police Department and asked that anyone with information on his whereabouts reach out immediately.
Yi said she and her husband have felt ‘the amount of compassion’ fans have given as Vandergrift has fought health issues over the last two years
Vandergrift first went missing on February 23 from his home in San Francisco
On Tuesday, DailyMail.com reported that Vandergrift had told listeners about health issues he was facing just hours before he disappeared.
The radio DJ told listeners during his final show that doctors were looking into something that may have ‘reignited’ old infections.
‘The body and the pain and all that stuff, I can handle. What it’s doing to my brain I could never describe to you,’ he said Thursday morning.
Less than 24 hours later, Vandergrift was reported missing with the San Francisco Police Department after he was last seen at his home on King Street around 10pm.
Vandergrift said doctors had even recently offered him experimental medications or surgeries to address the issues.
‘The stuff I’ve been going through in my brain that they’re trying to figure out. Ugh,’ he told Wild 94.9 listeners.
The unearthed comments on his health came just hours after his coworkers shared that he had not used his credit cards or phone since disappearing.
His friends from the radio station described the situation as ‘incredibly worrisome.’
The officials did not directly mention the Instagram post that has raised major red flags, but it is one of the biggest causes for concern.
The August 2022 Instagram post had originally been a celebration of National Radio Day, but was edited to thanks his fans for a ‘wonderful life.’
‘Thank you for a wonderful life-filed w joy, laughs, pain & struggle. It’s been a great journey. Your support & prayers meant the world,’ the caption now reads.
As of Tuesday, officials with the San Francisco Police Department said there is no indication of foul play at this time but he is still described as ‘at risk.’
During his Thursday show, the radio DJ (left) said he had been working with his medical team to address his concerns
‘The stuff I’ve been going through in my brain that they’re trying to figure out. Ugh,’ he told Wild 94.9 listeners
Vandergrift said doctors had even recently offered him experimental medications or surgeries to address the issues
He didn’t go into more detail but in 2021, the DJ had been diagnosed with Lyme disease, according to a post he made at the time
The unearthed comments on his health come just hours after his coworkers said Vandergrift has not used his credit cards or phone since disappearing
His friends from the radio station described the situation as ‘incredibly worrisome’
San Francisco police have asked the public for their help in locating the man who has been missing for almost a week.
Officials have described Vandergrift as ‘at risk’ and are urging anyone who may have information on his disappearance to come forward.
In a recent statement, Wild 94.9 said they are continuing to ‘pray for better news.’
‘As you know, our own JV has been missing since Thursday night and was officially reported missing this past Friday by the SFPD,’ 94.9 said in a statement posted to their social media accounts.
‘Since that time, there has been no trackable activity on his cell phone. There has also been no activity on his credit cards or any other banking records.
‘These updates are obviously incredibly worrisome, though we continue to hope and pray for better news,’ the post continued.
Fans are now supporting Vandergrift’s coworkers and family as they have left a small display of candles, flowers, and signs outside the iHeart radio station building in the Bay Area.
‘Bring JV home,’ reads one sign.
‘We love you, JV,’ states another.
Officials have described Vandergrift as ‘at risk’ and are urging anyone who may have information on his disappearance to come forward
Supporters have gathered outside of the iHeart radio station building in San Francisco to show their support for Vandergrift’s family and coworkers
Vandergrift was last seen at his home in the 200 block of King Street in the Bay Area just after 10pm after making an edit to the caption of his final Instagram photo, posted in 2022
Listeners were the first to point out that the post the startling edits to the Instagram post that has sparked major concern. The photo had originally been shared as a celebration of National Radio Day according to his Twitter account.
The DJ or someone who had access to his account had edited the caption to thank his fans for their support and used past-tense language, causing many to worry for his safety and mental health.
The post’s original caption read: ‘It’s #NationalRadioDay I know, who gives a fart!!? Been at 94 since 94. Wow, that’s a long time!! Super grateful for each of you who have been on this journey w me.’
Since editing the caption and going missing, the comments section has since turned into a place for his fans and loved ones to send him love in hopes he may see it.
‘Dear JV. You are loved. We are all praying for you and thinking about you,’ wrote one person.
‘We are all praying for you and thinking about you. Sometimes it’s nice to just get away and clear our minds but we are worried about you,’ said a commenter.
‘JV….. listen to your listeners. We’ve been listening to you since the 1990’s. Now it’s your turn to listen to your listeners. You are so loved!! We still need 40 plus years of listening to you on the radio ! Praying for your safe return back to your family,’ wrote another fan.
‘Hey buddy, come home. We miss you and love you brotha. At least let us know you’re safe,’ said another person.
The San Francisco Police Department is asking for help locating Vandergrift
Vandergrift works at Wild 94.9 in San Francisco, California
Listeners have also been showing support to Natasha, who has been silent on social media since his disappearance five days ago as supporters have flooded her pages to share messages of support.
‘Sending prayers and wishes your way for JV’s safe return, Natasha. We love you both,’ one person wrote under Yi’s most recent photo, posted before her husband went missing.
‘Praying JV is back soon ! He’s a good guy with a good heart and needs all the love and good energy his way,’ said another.
‘Natasha- hang in there. I hope you can feel the arms of the bay wrapped around you,’ wrote one person.
‘We love you and JV, and I’m disgusted by the audacity of anyone who can leave critical comments on your page knowing everything you’re going through right now,’ the person continued.
Yi, a playboy style model and actress, has two million followers on Instagram.
Before he seemingly stopped using Instagram in 2022, Vandergrift had shared dozens of photos of his wife and them together.
Supporters have flooded Yi’s pages to share messages of love for the wife of the DJ
Vandergrift and Yi tied the knot in 2006 after three years of dating and later renewed their wedding vows in 2017
Listeners have also been showing support to Natasha, who has been silent on social media since his disappearance five days ago
Vandergrift, seen here with his wife Natasha, in a photo posted to Instagram
Vandergrift and Yi tied the knot in 2006 after three years of dating and later renewed their wedding vows in 2017.
The couple quickly joined together for various projects, including the production of their shows, the Dog House Comedy Show.
On YouTube, the couple runs a successful joint account with more than 10,000 followers. Some of their videos have raked in hundreds of thousands of views.
Vandergrift is described as a white male, 6’0′, 180 pounds, bald, and brown eyes.
Police say he has several tattoos including ones on his arms and above his right ear and was last seen wearing black sweatpants.
