Matthew John Ferris, 20, of Des Moines was reported missing by his family on March 7, 1991 after last being seen by them in February 1991. At the time he vanished he was described as 5 feet 10 inches, 140 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, and driving a silver 1982 Pontiac. Authorities indicated he might have been headed to the West Coast, and Custer State Park in South Dakota has been mentioned as a place of interest because of his interest in Native American folklore.

This was not Matthew’s first disappearance. On July 25, 1990 he left for a week after telling his family he was helping a friend move; his father later found a note in which Matthew apologized for any pain his disappearance would cause. He returned frightened, subsequently received six months of psychiatric treatment for depression, and enrolled at Iowa State University. In the days before the 1991 disappearance his family reported abnormal behavior; his father said Matthew seemed manic and uncharacteristically happy and that Matthew had told the family he was going to the movies and never came back.

The case is classified as Endangered/Physical and is being investigated by the Des Moines Police Department. If anyone has information about Matthew’s whereabouts in February or March 1991, please contact the Des Moines Police Department.