Mental Breakdown Suspected in English Prof's Disappearance

Extreme weight loss and other strange behaviors reportedly preceded the sudden disappearance of Saddleback College instructor Amy Ahearn this summer.

Those close to her have reached out to both the Orange and Los Angeles county sheriff's departments to help locate the 40-year-old woman, who may be exhibiting signs of the degenerative disorder Huntington's disease.

She was reportedly last sighted in Norwalk, CA in September.

On the Saddleback College website, Ahearn is listed as an English composition instructor.

Ahearn has been missing from her Lake Forest home since Aug. 22, the day the fall semester began at Saddleback. 

According to a Facebook page set up to help locate her, Ahearn is likely to be found at "law offices seeking legal advice, notary public offices, libraries, bookstores, and restaurants/places that have free Wi-Fi."

The website Rate My Professor has 77 reviews for her teaching, the most recent from Aug. 16.

Postings about her teaching style were generally positive until 2008, when students begin to mention her aversion to students coming within 3 feet of her.

Members of her family believe she might be suffering from a delusional disorder or the symptoms of Huntington's disease.

Huntington's is a genetic disease that usually begins showing symptoms when individuals are in their mid-30s and 40s.

Ahearn's family is asking anyone who has information on her whereabouts to contact the OC Sheriff's Department at 949-770-6011.

Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said Ahearn's disappearance is not considered suspicious and she isn't thought to be in any danger.

According to the Huntington's Disease Society of America, symptoms of Huntington's disease can include involuntary movements, depression, aggressive outbursts and social withdrawal.