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Mentally Ill Man Missing From Sulphur Springs Facility

Photo courtesy of Barbara Del Castillo

Police are looking for Gary Wayne Fields, a 49-year-old man with schizophrenia who wandered away from his assisted-living facility.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 15, 2007

TAMPA - Three weeks ago Wednesday, a mentally ill man walked away from a Sulphur Springs assisted-living facility. His relatives haven't heard from him since.

Gary Wayne Fields, 49, is the only son of Barbara Del Castillo, 67, of Sun City Center. He takes medication for schizophrenia, is "somewhat autistic" and has a speech impediment, she said. He has a corrected cleft palate and cleft lip.

Tampa police call Fields a "missing endangered person" because of his medical condition. Police are checking homeless shelters and gathering areas. Police also have alerted officers to keep an eye out for him, spokeswoman Andrea Davis said.

Fields lives at the Springs Water Assisted Living Facility at 1411 E. Waters Ave. where he could come and go as he liked, his mother said. Officials there declined to comment Wednesday.

Del Castillo described her son as about 6 feet tall and 150 pounds. He has hazel eyes and brown hair and is possibly unshaven. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes.

Police asked anyone with information about the man to call (813) 231-6130.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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