Baltimore Police Searching For 'Critical Missing' Teacher
UPDATE: Gregory Ferrell was found dead inside his car on Jan. 13.
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore City Police are investigating the bizarre circumstances behind the sudden disappearance of an eighth-grade teacher who was last seen just days after Christmas.
The unusual situation is striking a nerve with those who came into contact with Gregory Ferrell on a regular basis. The special education teacher is described as a soft-spoken, kind person who teaches at Monarch Academy in northeast Baltimore.
"If they were having some meetings, he'd be outside like, 'Hi!' He was really nice," Toni McWayne said.
Red flags have immediately gone up after all of his social media and credit card activity stopped, but authorities say they have not found any overt signs of foul play.
"I was just telling my husband that it's spooky," McWayne said.
Police have now declared the 56-year-old a "critical missing person."
"When we get into a scenario when somebody's life stops basically of everything normal -- whether it's using credit cards, social media, going to work, things like that, contacting friends and family -- that's a major concern," Baltimore City Police spokesperson T.J. Smith said.
He was last seen Dec. 29, 2017 inside Melba's Place, a Baltimore nightclub. Staff confirmed he was seen on surveillance, but would not elaborate further. They do, however, have his missing poster inside.
Ferrell is 6-foot-2-inches tall, weighs about 250 pounds and was last seen wearing black pants and a light gray sweater.
Ferrell was last seen driving a purple 2011 Mazda with Maryland license plates that read ICA8798.
A man who asked to not be identified tells WJZ he knows Ferrell well and described him as a good neighbor and a man who keeps to himself.
"He was a good guy, a likable guy," he said. "That's what comes to my head, initially, is how soft-spoken he is and his kindness."
The school sent home a letter to parents expressing their grief and assuring parents that social workers are at the school to support students and staff if necessary.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-396-2100.
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