What happened to Scott Federer? Missing man last seen at COTA bus stop two weeks ago

It's been two weeks since Scott Federer walked out of Mount Carmel East hospital, boarded a No. 10 bus and disappeared.

Since then, the days passed, worries increased and Central Ohio Transit Authority officials took the unusual step of reviewing frame after frame of surveillance footage — all to no avail.

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Columbus police are investigating and released a bulletin describing Federer as 5 feet, 9 inches tall and150 pounds. He was last seen Jan. 12 wearing gray sweatpants and a green hooded jersey.

His husband, Stephen Lydick, said Federer, 52, of Canal Winchester, was at Mount Carmel East when he decided to leave against the advice of doctors. Lydick said Federer was a recovering alcoholic and that they had both been treated at the hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

Lydick said he had ordered a ride for Federer via Uber, but his husband was released two hours earlier than expected. The two spoke on the phone, and Lydick said Federer seemed confused and may have been lost in the hospital. Federer called Lydick back and told him someone from Mount Carmel's security staff would take him home.

When Federer didn't arrive home that afternoon, Lydick said he called the hospital and found out that someone in security had given his husband a bus pass and put him on a bus.

Mount Carmel declined to comment directly on Federer, citing privacy laws that prevent the health system from speaking about the care provided to a patient.

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"We have provided information to local authorities as part of their investigation and will continue to help them in any way we can," Mount Carmel spokeswoman Samantha Irons said via email. "Occasionally, we are asked by patients to help with their transportation needs, and we work to assist with those requests as we are able,"

Police on Tuesday said they had no additional information about Federer outside of the missing persons poster they released last week.

Surveillance footage from COTA shows Federer sitting on a westbound No. 10 bus on Jan. 12.

It also shows Federer talking with the bus driver and exiting the bus at 4:07 p.m. at a stop along West Broad Street near a Giant Eagle store and the Lincoln Village Shopping Center. Federer was seen sitting at the same stop on another COTA surveillance camera at 4:18 p.m.

Each COTA bus has anywhere from seven to 10 surveillance cameras, said COTA spokesman Jeff Pullin.

Pullin said COTA officials speculated that Federer may have eventually boarded the No. 5 bus after departing the No. 10. The No. 5 is the bus Federer would have needed to take if he were attempting to travel east toward his home in Canal Winchester.

But, Pullin said that COTA searched through every frame of surveillance video from the No. 5 bus that day and didn't see Federer.

COTA routinely provides camera footage to Columbus police or other law enforcement agency when an automobile crash occurs and there's a chance that an external camera on a bus captured it, Pullin said. But it's rare for COTA to participate in a missing person investigation.

"There are obviously missing persons cases very regularly in central Ohio but very rarely does it involve someone getting on a bus," Pullin said. "We're willing to help if we can. If there's any tip that says he got in another vehicle, we'll check it out immediately."

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Although days have already turned into weeks, Federer's husband and friends are determined to bring him home.

Around 20 friends and family gathered Sunday for a vigil near the bus stop where Federer departed the No. 10 bus on West Broad Street before going missing.

They held signs that read "Bring Scotty Home" and posted a sign in the bus stop that read "We Love You Scott." Balloons were tied to a nearby trash can marking the spot where Federer was last seen.

In the 13 days since he vanished, Federer missed his 24th wedding anniversary with his husband, who was at the vigil.

"He knows he's got a family that loves him," Lydick told The Dispatch. "We're just trying to get the word out to find him."

Federer's story has been shared dozens of times on social media since he went missing. Friends like Jennifer Howell, 54, of German Village appreciate the support and hope it makes a difference.

"At this point, we're really, really, really worried," Howell said. "He's a wonderful human being. Any human should be found. ... He's clearly not purposefully gone. ... He's in trouble."

Howell said she considers Federer to be family and said it's unlike him to just disappear. Federer's cellphone seems to be dead and his credit card hasn't been used since he disappeared, she said.

Lydick hopes this is the only wedding anniversary he and Federer will spend apart.

"He's a great person," Lydick said. "He's always been a good husband, and we've had a great life together."

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby

mtrombly@dispatch.com

@monroetrombly

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus-area man missing after boarding COTA bus outside hospital