A month-long search for a missing father of two is over after his decomposing body was found inside the ventilation system of a Michigan community college theatre.
Police were called to Macomb Community College in Detroit after staff realized the odor permeating the school’s performing arts center might have a sinister cause.
They traced the smell to a vent where they found the body of Jason Thompson, 36, who had vanished from his sister Shelby’s apartment less than a mile away on October 25.
His family had plastered the city’s Clinton Township district with fliers appealing for information before the grisly discovery on Sunday night.
‘Jason was loved by many people and his family have been through a lot over the past month while he has been missing,’ wrote his cousin Carissa Thompson on a Gofundme page.
Jason Thompson, 36, was father to Killian and Kiara, and had never been out of contact for more than 24 hours, his family said
Security footage in sister Shelby’s Sterling Heights home captured the exact last moment on October 25 Thompson was seen alive
‘Jason was a father to two beautiful children, Killian and Kiara. He was a son, uncle, brother, cousin but most important he was loved by his family and friends and will be missed.’
A security camera in Shelby’s apartment caught the moment he disappeared, stepping out in Sterling Heights wearing black pants, adidas shoes and a hoodie.
His family reported him missing on November 1 and began a series of daily calls to hospitals, the medical examiner’s office, jails and police departments in a bid to find him.
‘Never in his life has he ever gone without contact with our family for more than 24 hours, not once,’ wrote Shelby on Facebook.
‘This is completely unusual for my brother, someone knows something- what will it take for you to speak?’
College police are awaiting a cause of death from the Macomb County medical examiner, but Macomb College Police Chief William Leavens said there was ‘no reason to suspect foul play’.
His family reported him missing on November 1 and his family began a series of daily calls to hospitals, the medical examiner’s office, jails and police departments in a bid to find him
More than a month later his decomposing body was found in an air vent at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts at Macomb Community College in nearby Clinton Township
‘At this point, it is important to remember that this an ongoing investigation, with the goal to understand the circumstances,’ he added.
But the discovery has horrified students at the college and left many with unanswered questions.
‘They say they don’t suspect foul play?’ demanded former business studies student Sean Kalil.
‘So the dude just went in the vent himself and said this is where I’m choosing to spend my final days? ‘That all sounds fishy to me.’
Thompson had a lengthy criminal record including a nine-year sentence for an armed robbery in 2008, and was on probation for retail fraud at the time of his disappearance.
College spokesperson Jeanne M Nicol told NBC that Thompson had no connection with the school, but could not say how he got access to the performing arts building because the investigation is ongoing.
‘The college community extends heartfelt condolences during this difficult time to Mr Thompson’s family and friends,’ she added.
But students have slammed the college for keeping them in the dark about the death on their campus.
‘Macomb has yet to send out any email to the students about this,’ wrote Ruby Bell on Facebook.
‘Class is still going on today even at my building that’s connected to the building the body was found it.
‘Not sure why Macomb hasn’t reached out to us yet but this is very insensitive of them.’
