A man long believed to be the victim of a Chicago-area serial killer was found alive in Beaverton 34 years later thanks to a simple DNA test, according to authorities in Illinois.
At the age of 24, Theodore 'Ted' Szal went missing from his residence near O'Hare International Airport in March of 1977 and investigating law enforcement deemed he closely matched the circumstances of the remaining seven unidentified
John Wayne Gacy victims.
In the ongoing effort to identify the recently exhumed and remaining Gacy victims, a DNA test conducted last week showed no connection between the murder victims and Szal's surviving mother and father, who are 79 and 87 years old, respectively.
Gacy, of Chicago, was convicted of sexually assaulting and killing 33 teenage boys and young men in the 1970s. He was executed by lethal injection in 1994.
After doing a national search for Szal's name, date of birth and social security number, the 59-year-old was found Monday by Beaverton police.
“My mind is blown,” said Szal Wednesday from his Beaverton apartment.
“You throw your life away 35 years ago and here it is again," he said.
Szal said he had big family issues regarding a previous marriage and felt that leaving was the best solution, so he dumped his car at the airport and even threw his keys down a sewer gate so he "wouldn't change my mind." He arrived in Oregon to work construction in 1989 and stayed because he liked it here.
Szal's father, also named Ted Szal, told investigators he had kept a picture of his son since his family reported him missing 34 years ago, according to the
Coos County Sheriff's Office in Illinois.
Szal asked the detective on the phone to tell his dad he was still fishing in Oregon, just like he was taught.
Coos County Sheriff Tom Dart said it was "something special" to tell the father his son was found alive.
“I believe Christmas has come early for the Szal family,” said Sheriff Dart.
In a release, the Szal family thanked investigators and kept in mind all the other victims of John Wayne Gacy.
“While we are so relieved to have discovered that Ted is alive and well, our thoughts and prayers are also with the families of the victims–both known and yet to be determined–of John Wayne Gacy," read the release.
There has not been any direct contact yet among the families but Szal said he is ready to reconnect.
"I will pick up the phone and try not to cry too much ‘cause I bet it will be emotional."
--Toshio Suzuki
