How Dr. Cletus Iwuagwu left hospital after visit and never made it home

A 71-year-old doctor who went missing after leaving hospital in Ohio has been found dead weeks later, authorities have confirmed.

Dr. Cletus Iwuagwu was reported missing on November 25 in Springfield Township after he failed to return home. His daughter contacted police when the family could no longer reach him.

According to the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, Dr. Iwuagwu was last seen by a family member around 8 p.m. on November 24. He had been discharged from a local hospital earlier that day and was believed to be heading home.

Surveillance footage later showed him near his home in Holland at about 2:15 a.m. on November 25. After that, all contact with him was lost.

Police launched a large search operation involving drones, K-9 units and dozens of volunteers. Despite weeks of searching, there were no leads.

On Christmas Day, December 25, authorities discovered a body in Orchard Lake near Stone Oak Country Club. The Springfield Fire Department recovered the remains from the water, and they were later identified as Dr. Iwuagwu.

On December 26, the Lucas County Coroner’s Office confirmed that he died from drowning. Officials said the autopsy showed no signs of injury or foul play.

However, the coroner added that the circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation.

One of Dr. Iwuagwu’s daughters told police that she had been receiving phone location updates showing her father’s movements. But when officers attempted to trace him, they were unable to locate him.

Dr. Iwuagwu was a respected physician and a professor at the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. He also worked as a geriatric medicine doctor with UToledo Health.

The university had earlier expressed hope for his safe return while the search was ongoing.

Local residents said his disappearance had weighed heavily on the community, with the discovery of his body on Christmas Day bringing a tragic end to weeks of uncertainty.