Najah Ferrell Update: Missing Indiana Woman Maybe Dead, Foul Play Suspected

Preliminary reports showed the foot recovered from a pond in Crown Point, Indiana, belonged to missing woman Najah Ferrell. Her case will be categorized as a "death investigation” for the immediate future, police said Wednesday.

“It’s not the outcome that anyone wanted. Certainly not the outcome that we were wanting ourselves. Going through that process is very difficult for the family,” Avon Deputy Chief of Investigations Brian Nugent said in a press briefing, Fox 59 reported. “At the end of the day somebody knows something.”

He added that positive identification of the remains remained pending as DNA results might take up to weeks. The cause and manner of death are also currently undetermined and until that happens, the case cannot be classified as a homicide investigation. However, the police suspect foul play.

“We are not going to attach ourselves with a confirmation,” Nugent said. “We are still gathering information. Information from the state police crime lab will be confirmed in the coming weeks.”

Ferrell, 30, from Avon, Indiana, went missing March 15. Her family grew concerned when she never made it to work and didn’t pick up her kids from school. Since then, the police have located some of her belongings and her abandoned car in two separate locations in Indianapolis. The big break for the police came Monday when a fisherman reported finding a human foot in a pond. The following day, the police spent hours scouring the pond using sonar, divers and a drone.

The deceased had two biological children and three foster kids. Seeds of Life – the organization she had fostered the kids from – issued the following statement after her disappearance:

“Although Najah has been fostering through our agency for only a short time, she made a positive impact on the children in her care. She was enthusiastic and passionate about fostering children. She made connections with other foster parents and was always open to providing guidance and support as they navigated through the foster care process. She not only provided care to the children placed in her home, but she assisted other foster families as well. Najah was someone who gave back to our community. She had a great working relationship with our staff and our Seeds of Life family. It takes a special person to open, not only their home, but also their heart to care for children in need of services.”

Bethel Worship Family Center, a local church, has set up the "Najah Ferrell Benevolence Fund" for donations. The church offered condolences through the following statement:

"Bethel Family Worship Center is extending our prayers & support for the family of our beloved Najah Ferrell, during this difficult time. We are praying for the family's strength & comfort, as we respectfully allow them to process the information privately. Please join us in praying for the family & supporting where you can."