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Contributed Mari Ruddy, 48, was reported missing from her St. Paul, Minn., home Tuesday.... ( SCS )

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A former Santa Cruz County teacher has been reported missing from her home in St. Paul, police say.

Mari Ruddy, who worked in Santa Cruz County high schools for 12 years, was last seen about noon Tuesday at the St. Paul home she moved into less than a year ago.

Ruddy, 48, has Type 1 diabetes and her family believes she may only have enough insulin to last two days. A missing persons report was filed with the St. Paul Police Department Tuesday night. A website, findmariruddy.com, also was launched in an effort to find her.

Ruddy uses an insulin pump and needs insulin to keep herself alive. Her family believes she does not have her blood glucose meter, extra insulin or other pump supplies with her.

The website reports that she left home in her car, a late 1990s or early 2000s model, dark green Honda Civic with a bike rack on the roof and a red bumper sticker with the word "namaste." The license plate number of her vehicle is 102-LNC, according to the website. Ruddy's purse and cellphone were found at her home.

"At this point, it's not deemed to be suspicious," said Howie Padilla, spokesman for the St. Paul police. The missing persons unit is investigating.
The website reports that her family is worried that she may try to harm herself and may be in "a place with spiritual significance, beauty or seclusion."

According to her LinkedIn profile, Ruddy worked as a Spanish language teacher at Harbor High School from 1988 to 1994 and was an assistant principal at Aptos High School from 1994 to 1998. She worked at Watsonville High School as a conflict resolution consultant from 1999 to 2001. About 10 years ago, she moved to Denver, according to her friend Jolene Kemos, and moved to St. Paul less than a year ago. Ruddy and Kemos worked together at Aptos High and remain close.

"She's my mentor and friend and I love her very much," Kemos of Santa Cruz said. "It's beyond belief that she's out there somewhere. She's well loved by many people in Santa Cruz and beyond."

Ruddy is the founder and director of TeamWILD, a company that supports and coaches people with diabetes who want to be physically active. She is an avid cyclist and triathlete.

Information is available at findmariruddy.com. There is also a Facebook group for people who want to help at www.facebook.com/groups/172257126284014/?notif_t=group_r2j.