By Lindsay Doty
Avon Police are looking at all possibilities after the disappearance of Najah Ferrell has turned into a death investigation. This comes after a human foot was discovered in a retention pond near I-65 and 109th near Crown Point on Monday.
The remains were discoverd by a fisherman and have been pre-identified as belonging to missing Avon mom Najah Ferrell.
“They did locate a tattoo that was on the remains that was consistent with a tatoo that Najah had,” explained Avon Police Deputy Chief of Investigations Brian Nugent during a Wednesday press conference.
Investigators say the family confirmed that Ferrell did have a tattoo that fit the same description.
“As you can imagine, that’s obviously devastating information for the family,” said deputy chief Nugent.
Avon Police are working closely with Crown Point detectives to gather more information. A team is using sonar technology to search the pond for more evidence this week.
The Indiana State Crime Lab will be performing forensic testing on the remains to make a final confirmation. Results could take up to two weeks.
Investigators say Najah Ferrell does have family in the Lake County area.
“We do not have any suspects or persons of interest at this time. We do believe foul play was involved,” Nugent said. “We simply don’t know the circumstances surrounding her death.”
Ferrell went missing on March 15. The 30-year-old Avon resident was last seen around 3 a.m. at her home near Dan Jones Road and County Road 100 South. She never made it to work or to pick up her kids. Weeks later, her vehicle was located at Michigan Road and 86th Street, about two and a half miles from the Panera Bread where she was expected to complete work training later that day.
Police also recovered some of her personal items from the area of I-65 and Lafayette Road.
Ferrell has three foster children and two biological children who are receiving services at Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Center during the investigation.
Police and Ferrell’s family are still urging the community to come forward with any tips about what happened.
If you have any information, please contact the Hendricks County Communications Center at 317-839-8700 or call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS.