Missing Man with Cognitive Disabilities Found Alive During NYC Marathon

A Long Island man with cognitive disabilities who went missing on Halloween was found safe two days later — right in the middle of the New York City Marathon.

Giacomo “Jack” Campione, 55, of Elmont, N.Y., was last seen on the morning of Oct. 31 in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens. Jack, who was dressed in a costume, had been out with his group home housemates and an aide when he got separated from the group after leaving a city bus, according to the New York City Police Department.

“His cognitive ability is between a 4 and 6-year-old. So picture a child in the street,” his sister Giselle Campione told 1010 WINS. The community immediately sprang into action, putting up flyers and searching the streets for Jack.

For two nights, Jack survived on Halloween candy by politely saying “trick or treat” to strangers and slept on the sidewalk, WCBS reported. “If it wasn’t for the community, I don’t know if Jack would be here right now,” Giselle said.

On Sunday, Nov. 2, as runners passed through Queens Plaza during the marathon, a bystander spotted Jack after he fell, helped him up, and called police. Jack was found alive, though he had sustained a minor injury to his nose.

His family expressed shock that he managed to travel over seven miles on his own without medication, food, or water. They also want answers from his group home about how he became separated from his housemates.

Jack’s sister also praised the good Samaritan who helped him during the marathon, hoping to thank them personally. “It’s New York. We see a lot of stuff in New York,” Giselle said. “Thank you New York for helping my brother.”