Missing Ottawa Hills man found

8/16/2011
BLADE STAFF
William Niehous
William Niehous

FREMONT — The former Owens-Illinois, Inc. executive who disappeared Monday from his home was found unharmed Tuesday morning when he apparently ran out of gas when driving near Fremont, authorities said.

A Sandusky County sheriff deputy found William Niehous, 80, of North Citation Rd., when his car came to a stop about 6:30 a.m. on State Rt. 6 at State Rt. 53 just outside Fremont, according to the sheriff’s office.

Mr. Niehous was reported missing about 5 p.m. Monday night. His wife told police that he was last seen in their home about 10 a.m. Monday.

A former vice president of Owens-Illinois, Mr. Niehous is afflicted with Alzheimer’s.

Mr. Niehous, who was the company’s vice president in charge of Venezuelan operations, was kidnapped in 1976 and escaped his captors three years later. He left O-I in 1988.

Fremont is about 33 miles southeast of Toledo.