Missing deaf, autistic man found suffering frostbite

1/5/2001

A deaf and autistic man who walked away from a South Toledo group home Tuesday night was found early yesterday talking loudly and knocking on doors on Reo Street, asking for hot water for his feet, authorities said.

Nicholas W. Szabo, 45, was found about 1 a.m. and was taken by Toledo police to the Medical College of Ohio Hospitals, where he was in fair condition last night. Mr. Szabo suffered from frostbite, said Lon Mitchell, spokesman for the Lucas County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

Mr. Szabo went to get a newspaper about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and for an unknown reason did not to go back to the group home at 213 Ivanhill Road. He was found less than a mile away from the group home. Through an interpreter at the hospital, Mr. Szabo said he was hiding and that he knew people were looking for him, Mr. Mitchell said.

Mr. Szabo probably will return to the group home when he is released from the hospital. He was placed in the group home from another one about two months ago.