Now in its ninth year, the investigation into the 18-year-old’s disappearance remains open as family and police seek new leads
More than nine years after she was last seen, the search for Desirea Ann Ferris continues. Ferris was 18 years old when she disappeared in the spring of 2017, and authorities say her case remains active and unsolved.
Ferris is officially listed as missing from Liberty, Missouri, but she was last seen in South Kansas City. According to information connected to the case, she was last seen on May 1, 2017. No one has reported seeing or hearing from her since that date.
Investigators suspect foul play. Ferris is not considered a runaway.
Physical Description
Ferris was 18 at the time of her disappearance. Her date of birth is February 11, 1999. She is described as a Caucasian female.
Key details of her description include:
- Height: 5 feet 1 inch
- Weight: 95 to 101 pounds
- Hair: Dark brown
- Eyes: Brown
- Identifying marks: A 1½-inch scar on her left forearm and a birthmark on her stomach next to her belly button
When she was last seen, Ferris was reportedly wearing a pink fuzzy jacket and a cream-colored top. She may have been carrying a tan purse.
Circumstances of the Disappearance
Ferris was last known to be with three people: Mark Arzola, who also goes by the nickname “Monkey”; Jason Keegan; and her sister, Samantha Ferris.
Samantha later returned home. Desirea did not.
The exact time of day she was last seen has not been released by authorities. The specific street address of the location where she was last seen has also not been made public. Details about what Ferris was doing in the hours before she disappeared, and how the disappearance itself unfolded, have not been publicly confirmed by investigators.
Case Status
The case is being tracked under police case number 20170830. As the investigation enters its ninth year, it remains open.
Authorities have not publicly released the name of the lead investigating agency assigned to the case, and no arrests connected to her disappearance have been announced. Details about search efforts conducted over the past nine years have not been made public.
The family continues to seek answers. A formal statement from Ferris’s family has not been released for this report.
How to Help
Anyone with information about Desirea Ann Ferris is urged to come forward. Even small details may help investigators.
- Tips Hotline: 816-474-8477
- Anonymous Call or Text Tips: 816-348-3824
Tipsters may share information anonymously. If you believe you are witnessing an emergency or see someone matching Ferris’s description in immediate danger, call 911.
Anyone with new information is encouraged to contact the numbers above and reference case number 20170830.