Remains Found in Pond Could Be Missing Mom Najah Ferrell, Say Police

An undated photo of missing Najah Ferrell, 30, with her two children in Avon, Ind. (Courtesy of Avon Indiana Police Department)

Authorities may have found what is left of an Indiana mother who went missing on March 15.

Avon Police Department officers found human remains on March 28 at Crown Point, 50 miles southeast of Chicago, Illinois.

Deputy Chief Brian Nugent said local police received a report from a fisherman who caught what appeared to be a human foot.

Responding officers confirmed that the remains were human and Nugent said while police could not confirm whether the remains actually belong to Najah Ferrell, 30, a preliminary investigation found the remains are likely to belong to her.

The mother of two had last been seen about 3:00 a.m. local time at her home near Dan Jones Road and County Road 100 South. Police described her as five feet four inches tall, 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Ferrell’s family members claim she left for work early the morning and never arrived. Mother Paula Gholson said she hoped police bring closure to them and help prevent another tragedy from happening.

“I don’t want any, any of the mothers to ever, ever have to deal with anything like what happened to this young family because I miss her and she could be here with the boys,” Gholson said at a press conference. “Join together and do whatever it is that you can to help us because we are all one family.”

Police found Ferrell’s vehicle abandoned in Indianapolis on March 26. Some of her belongings were also recovered along a local interstate.

“That vehicle was located by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and that vehicle was sealed and transported to Avon Police Department where our investigators have since conducted a thorough search of the vehicle while being assisted by crime scene investigators and the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office,” Nugent said.

On social media concerned citizens expressed their shock and horror to learn the remains may belong to Ferrell.

“[Police] found a piece of her remains in Crown Point Indiana in a pound, this is so sad,” Shawna Ziegler Douglas said. “Prayers for her family.”

“I was wondering yesterday if she had been found, I’m so sad to hear this update,” Tiffany Dillard Godsey said. “Sending prayers.”

“So sad ... I hate all this bad news, breaks my heart,” Kristena Dailey said.

Another person thanked police for all their hard work in finding Ferrell.

“Avon police have worked around the clock on this. The family has been lucky to have such devoted investigators on this case,” Jacqueline L Thompson said.

Police said the case is still under investigation, and they are appealing for anyone with information to contact the Hendricks County Communications Center by phoning 317 839 8700 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317 262 8477.

“Somebody knows something,” Nugent said. “If you are that somebody who thinks they may know something ... we are still in desperate need of information [and] we need you to come forward.”