The family of Justin Ramos has been actively searching the Worcester area for the 27-year-old, who has been missing since the beginning of the month.

Ramos was last seen at a friend's house on Jan. 8, according to Worcester Police Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst. Ramos' mother filed a missing person report with Worcester police the next day and has been in constant contact with police.

One of Ramos' friends, Katherine Davidson, said that Ramos suffers from a mental disability and that his family is worried for his safety.

Davidson said Ramos was not far from his family's home on Vassar Street when he went missing. He was with friends and waiting to be picked up by another friend, she said.

Reached by phone briefly on Monday, Ramos' mother, Melissa, said she was out driving around, looking for her son.

Detectives are searching for Ramos, Hazelhurst said. Officers have checked homeless shelters, but have not found Ramos.

Ramos is 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 190 pounds with brown hair and a beard, Hazelhurst said. He was wearing a blue jacket, tan pants and red shoes when he went missing.

Davidson said that Ramos primarily stays in Worcester. He was one of her closest friends when they went to Doherty High School.

"He was very charismatic," she said. "He had a really, really great personality, super funny."

Anyone who sees Ramos can call 508-847-9229 or