Chicago Man Thought to be Gacy Victim Found Alive

CHICAGO — Another man whose family feared had become a victim of serial killer John Wayne Gacy has been found alive.

Theodore Szal went missing from the Chicago area in 1977 at age 24, the Cook County Sheriff's Office said.

His race, age, and the date he disappeared bore enough similarities to Gacy's 33 victims that his family's DNA was compared to eight never-identified Gacy victims whose bodies were recently exhumed.

There wasn't a match, but the sheriff's office was able to track Szal down in Beaverton, Ore. He's now 59 years old.

Sheriff Tom Dart says Szal's family is "ecstatic and amazed" that he's alive. He says they're planning the best way to reconnect.

Another man thought to be a Gacy victim was found alive in Florida in October.