Theodore Ted Jacob Patlak was 22 when he vanished from Chicago in December 1980. He was last seen by a relative at a home near Irving Park and Pulaski; the relative said he stopped in, asked for a glass of water, and then left. No one in his family or circle has reported seeing or hearing from him since that brief encounter.

Patlak was described as 6 feet 1 inch tall, about 175 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. A notable physical detail is that one of his legs was shorter than the other because of a severe break at age 16. It is believed he had no personal belongings or identification with him when last seen. The Illinois State Police handled the investigation, but no substantial leads were developed and the case remains open.

Does anyone who lived near Irving Park and Pulaski in December 1980 remember seeing Ted or recall any detail that might help explain his disappearance?