Mystery as body is found in ventilation system of Michigan community college’s performing arts center after students complained of a ‘foul odor’

A month-long search for a missing father of two is over after his decomposing body was found in the ventilation system of a community college theater in Michigan.

Police were called to Macomb Community College in Detroit after staff realized the odor permeating the school’s performing arts center could have a sinister cause.

They traced the scent to a vent where they found the body of Jason Thompson, 36, who had disappeared from his sister Shelby’s apartment less than a mile away on Oct. 25.

His family had defaced the city’s Clinton Township area with fliers asking for information before the gruesome discovery on Sunday evening.

“Jason was loved by many people and his family has been through a lot over the past month while he has been missing,” his cousin Carissa Thompson wrote on a Gofundme page.

Security footage at Sister Shelby’s home in Sterling Heights captured the exact last moment Thompson was seen alive on Oct. 25

‘Jason was the father of two beautiful children, Killian and Kiara. He was a son, uncle, brother and cousin, but most importantly he was loved by his family and friends and will be missed.”

A security camera in Shelby’s apartment captured the moment he disappeared, walking into 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, prisons and police departments in an effort to find him.

“Never in his life has he not been in contact with our family for more than 24 hours, not once,” Shelby wrote on Facebook.

‘This is completely unusual for my brother. Someone knows something. What do you need to speak?’

College police are awaiting the 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, prisons and police departments in an effort 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 time it is important to remember that this is an ongoing investigation, with the aim of understanding the circumstances,” he added.

But the discovery has shocked the university’s students and left many with unanswered questions.

“They say they don’t suspect foul play?” asked former business student Sean Kalil.

“So the guy just went to the vent himself and said this is where I want to spend my last days? “That all seems suspicious to me.”

Thompson had a lengthy criminal record, including a nine-year prison sentence for armed robbery in 2008, and was on probation for retail fraud at the time of his disappearance.

College spokesperson Jeanne M. Nicol told the story NBC that Thompson had no connection with the school but could not say how he gained access to the performing arts building because the investigation is ongoing.

“The university community extends its sincere condolences to Mr. Thompson’s family and friends at this difficult time,” she added.

But students have blasted the college for keeping them in the dark about deaths on their campus.

“Macomb has not yet sent an email to students about this,” Ruby Bell wrote on Facebook.

“The class is still going on today, even in my building which is connected to the building where the body was found.

“I’m not sure why Macomb hasn’t contacted us yet, but this is very insensitive of them.”