The person at the center of this case
Matthew John Ferris
Missing Person · Open
35 years waiting · since 1991
Missing Person: Matthew John Ferris
Justice for Matthew John Ferris — the trail went cold in 1991, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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clue
Lead #1Why was Matthew possibly headed to the west coast? Did he have family, friends, or plans there?
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timeline
Lead #2What happened between his last contact on March 7, 1991, and when he was reported missing?
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witness
Lead #3Were there any witnesses to his departure from Ames or anyone who saw him traveling?
Matthew John Ferris, a 20-year-old white male, was reported missing to the Des Moines Police Department on March 7, 1991, from Ames, Iowa. He was last known to be in contact on that date and may have been headed to the west coast. Despite the passage of over three decades, the circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear and he has never been located.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
🔍
evidence
Lead #4What led investigators to believe he may have been headed west rather than staying in Iowa?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP17065. Missing person: Matthew John Ferris.
Last known contact: 1991-03-07 in Ames, Story, IA. Circumstances: Matthew Ferris was reported missing to the Des Moines Police Department (515-283-4800), in Des Moines on March 7, 1991.
Possibly headed to west coast. Demographics: 20 years, Male, White / Caucasian.
Physical description: 5 ft 10 in, 140 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Blue. Investigating agency: Des Moines Police Department | 1991-9217.
Timeline of Events
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1991-03-07
Last Known Contact
Matthew John Ferris was last known to be in contact in Ames, Iowa on March 7, 1991.
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1991-03-07
Reported Missing
Matthew Ferris was reported missing to the Des Moines Police Department. He was possibly headed to the west coast.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:March 7, 1991
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Phone: 5152834864
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Case Information
Incident:March 7, 1991
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 5152834864
You can remain anonymous