Family suspects foul play as man vanishes in Findlay

Smith: His friends last saw him at a Tiffin Avenue bar.

FINDLAY - Local police were searching yesterday for missing Eaton, Ohio, man last seen early Saturday at a Tiffin Avenue bar.

Fred Smith, 43, was out with friends shortly before he disappeared, possibly with a woman whom he had met at the bar, said his brother, Tom, of Columbus. His friends left the bar for a short period. When one of them returned, Mr. Smith was gone. Tom Smith said be believes his brother, a company executive, did not leave the bar willingly and could be held against his will.

Mr. Smith's wife reported him missing Saturday night after he failed to meet her in Columbus. He had been in Findlay to trapshoot, his brother said. In a statement released Sunday, Findlay police said they have no reason to suspect criminal activity. Findlay police Lt. Chuck Wilson could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Carl Spicocchi, agent in charge of the FBI office in Toledo, said he would travel to Findlay late yesterday to determine whether his office should get involved in the investigation.