Body found; search called off for former JC youth minister (VIDEO)

Liberty police, and the Jackson County Medical Examiner's office, were working Friday evening to be certain that a body found Friday morning was that of missing jogger Chad Rogers.

He had been missing since Monday night, when he left his family's home in Liberty for a jog.

Until recently, Rogers, 30, was the youth minister at Jefferson City's First United Methodist Church.

He, his wife and son had moved to Liberty to be closer to his family.

At an afternoon news conference carried online by Kansas City TV stations, Rogers' father - Greg Rogers - said the family is "heartbroken at the loss of our son, brother, husband and father. We loved Chad, and we will always love him

"Even though our hearts are sad, we know he is with his father in Heaven."

Liberty police reported a body was found in a construction crew's portable toilet, outside a junior high school building in Liberty.

The cause of death has not been announced.

Rogers is survived by his wife, Sarah, and son, Matthew, 1.

A memorial fund for their support has been established at U.S. Bank, 1909 W. Kansas St., Liberty, Mo. 64068.

First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City posted on Facebook, "It is with sadness that we have received confirmation from the family that in all likelihood Chad's body was found earlier today. The family has asked for continued prayers as well as their privacy respected as they deal with this reality."

Tim Fritson, a family friend coordinating social media efforts to find Rogers, posted on the Bring Chad Rogers Home page: "Thank you for your search efforts over the last 4 days. You've been very helpful throughout the process."

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The Liberty Police Department has not confirmed, but a man who has helped lead the search for Chad Rogers said Friday afternoon that his body has been found.

Tim Fritson posted the information on Facebook about the search and then confirmed the posting to the News Tribune.

Rogers, a former youth minister at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City, was last seen Monday jogging in Liberty.

A search by friends and authorities had been going since that time.

Fritson told the Kansas City Star he was with Rogers family when authorities told them they had found a body that they believe may be Rogers.

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