Body found in area where Ferndale coach disappeared

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Hikers found the body in a wooded area just across the Skagit County border and notified law enforcement, Elfo said, but the body has not been identified.

Skagit County officials could not be reached Sunday evening.

Scully’s car was found abandoned Saturday afternoon on Interstate 5 near Lake Samish, Felmley said.

Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue called off its search Saturday evening after divers, foot patrols, helicopters and search dogs failed to find Scully, Elfo said. Felmley said crews had exhausted all options before calling off the search.

Scully also was a substitute teacher in the Ferndale School District.

A friend saw Scully at his Halleck Street apartment Thursday morning about 8:40 a.m. But Scully never arrived in Alger, even after he sent a message to the friend saying he’d drive there and planned to arrive by 10 a.m. Thursday.

Ferndale High track coach Ted Genger said he spoke to Scully, who had coached pole vault at the school for eight years, at 9 a.m. Thursday. Scully had agreed to come to work a little early the next day (about 2:15 p.m. Friday), Genger said.

Scully, who Genger said had never missed a practice without calling ahead of time, never showed up. He also was absent from a pole vault practice Friday afternoon at Western Washington University, where he also helped coach.

That’s when Ferndale High Athletic Director Vic Randall called police, Genger said.

“It wasn’t like Jeremy not to show up when he said he was going to,” Randall said. “Jeremy’s very dependable.”

Genger said Scully was very passionate about pole vaulting, and always called if he couldn’t make it to work.

“I’ve coached track for 21 years and I’ve never worked with somebody so passionate,” Genger said. “I’ve never worked with someone so responsible. He was always the first coach to get there and the last coach to leave, day in and day out.”

Felmley said there were no signs of foul play at the scene where the car was left, with its door ajar and keys in the ignition.

Searchers have not located a blue backpack Scully was known to carry everywhere, Felmley said.

Genger said Scully was “his normal self” when he saw him at a track meet Wednesday, adding that Scully was “a good Samaritan,” and the type to pull over to help someone in need.

Scully’s family did not return a call for comment Sunday.

Scully is described as white, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds with brown hair.