Another Suspected Victim of John Wayne Gacy Found to Be Alive and Well

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 21, 2011 3:25PM

The efforts of Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart to identify the remains of eight victims of notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy continues to produce unexpected results after a second suspected victim of Gacy's was found to be living alive and well in Oregon.

Ted Szal was going through a divorce when he disappeared in March 1977. Szal's family didn't report him missing at the time because he already had a history of disappearing. When Dart announced his initiative to identify Gacy's John Doe victims, one of Szal's sisters came forward. Sheriff's investigators said that Szal's mother lent him money before he disappeared.

Szal was found after a check of his Social Security number showed he was living in Beaverton, OR. When Beaverton sheriff's authorities contacted him, he expressed shock that his family was looking for him, but asked they tell his father he was still fishing, just as he taught him as a kid. Dart said, “I believe Christmas has come early for the Szal family."

Szal is the second suspected victim of Gacy's to turn up alive since Dart announced his initiative to identify the remains of the John Does. Harold Wayne Lovell was found to be living in Florida in October after his family submitted DNA kits, which turned up a hit for an online booking photo and arrest record for Lovell. Last month, DNA evidence was used to identify the remains of William George Bundy. Nearly 125 families have contacted the Cook County Sheriff's Department since Dart made his announcement.