It’s been almost 17 months since Suzanne Giza has heard from her son.

Frank Joseph Giza III, 25, was hitchhiking and couch-surfing across the country to music festivals when he sent his last letter to his mom in early June 2009.

He had made it to Bloomington, and he said he would contact her in a couple of weeks, the letter read. As she sat in her home in Selbyville, Del., she waited for his next phone call or card or letter. But the weeks passed, and she never heard from her son.

Not then, not on her birthday and not now.

“I’m just sick about it,” Suzanne Giza said. “He’s not one not to call me. He’s resourceful. He’s asked to use strangers’ phones before just to call me, let me know he’s OK.”

The younger Giza, or Joey, as he is called by his family, was last seen leaving a friend’s house in Bloomington in June 2009. From what his family and police can gather, he and the friend got into an argument, and Joey Giza left.

Another friend said Joey was last seen walking out of town. He had left to go to the next festival on his list.

But friends waiting in Tennessee never saw him, Suzanne Giza said. Those expecting his arrival at the All Good Music Festival in West Virginia were kept waiting too.

Suzanne Giza said she’s worried her son is lost, that he’s fallen into a life of drugs and alcohol and can’t remember her phone number. She doesn’t like thinking of other worse possibilities.

Though Bloomington Police Capt. Joe Qualters said there is no indication of foul play at this time, a horrible thought does find its way into Suzanne Giza’s mind.

“I do keep thinking, ‘What if he’s dead?’” she said. “I’m so heartsick. I need to see if he’s alive.”

 

Read the rest of this story at the Indiana Daily Student.