The wife of a radio host whose body was found floating in the San Francisco Bay after a month-long search opened up about her husband’s heartbreaking death.
Natasha Yi, a fellow host at the Bay Area’s Wild 94.9, said her fear was transformed into sorrow when Jeffrey “JV” Vandergrift’s body was found last Wednesday by Pier 39.
“Every moment he was missing was agonizing for me,” she wrote on Instagram.
“But the pain I feel now is something I have never felt before. My heart is crushed, and I cannot see myself ever moving forward, ever feeling joy or being at peace.”
It remains unclear what led to his death as police said there was no evidence of foul play involved.
Vandergrift’s social media posts prior to his death suggested he might have been suffering from mental health issues at the time.
Yi, who married Vandergrift in 2006 and renewed their wedding vows in 2017, declined to share any information about his death out of respect for him and their family.
“I am devastated that the love of my life is gone,” she wrote. “But what I do know is that JV loved his work and he loved connecting with all of you. He loved his family, and I know he loved me as much as I love him. Our bond was truly unmatched.
“JV, my love, I will cherish the time we had together and will miss you until the day I see you again.”
Vandergrift was reported missing on Feb. 23, just hours after he posted messages on his Instagram thanking his followers for “a wonderful life-filled w joy, laughs, pain & struggles.”
He notably changed his Twitter location to “the other side” before he vanished.
The radio personality, popular for his over-the-air antics, had frequently opened up to his listeners about his ongoing battle with depression following a 2021 Lyme disease diagnosis.
“The stuff I’ve been going through in my brain that they’re trying to figure out. Ugh,” he said during what would be his final show.
“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.”
Yi’s heartbreaking message comes weeks after she posted a previous letter where she said she believed her husband was no longer alive.
“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,” she wrote at the time. “I tell you this with incredible pain and sadness in my heart.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
