Detectives calling woman’s disappearance suspicious

EVERETT — Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives this morning are calling the disappearance of a south Everett woman suspicious.

Sherry Harlan, 35, likely has been missing for up to a week, sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said. Major crime detectives and members of the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab were searching Harlan’s south Everett apartment this morning.

A co-worker on Tuesday called 911 to report that Harlan had missed several shifts at work. A sheriff’s deputy went to check on Harlan at her apartment in the 11600 block of Highway 99 in unincorporated Snohomish County.

“Right away we knew it was very unusual,” Hover said.

Major crime detectives were summoned to the scene. Hover declined to discuss what prompted the detectives to seek a warrant to search Harlan’s apartment.

There are reports that the co-worker smelled the strong odor of bleach and noticed portions of carpet had been removed from the apartment, according to KIRO-TV.

Hover declined to confirm those reports or discuss any evidence deputies discovered.

Harlan has lived at the Cedar Creek Apartments for about three months. She lives alone, Hover said.

Harlan’s car also is missing. She drives a 1989 four-door Nissan Sentra. It’s blue-gray with Washington license plate 928 RVN. Anyone who has seen Harlan or her car is asked to call 911 or the sheriff’s tip line at 425-388-3845.