‘I've Been Through Hell': Wheelchair Stolen From Amputee Recovered

A Maine man, who just had his leg amputated, is relieved to have gotten his stolen wheelchair back.

George Simmons of Lewiston came home from the hospital Thursday to find his motorized wheelchair, batteries and charger, were all stolen from his Blake Street apartment.

"I've been through hell," he said.

He was left bedridden after the theft, and he pleaded for the public's help to locate his missing chair. His daughter, Elizabeth Simmons, confirmed Friday night that the wheelchair had been recovered after someone was caught trying to sell it.

Lewiston Police were investigating the incident. According to Lt. David St. Pierre, the equipment was most likely stolen Wednesday night.

George Simmons' family noticed it was missing Thursday morning, when they went to pick him up from the hospital. He had been keeping it by his porch so the batteries could charge.

"I didn't even chain it up, because who would steal a wheelchair?" he said.

Simmons said due to his declining health, he cannot use a basic wheelchair, and motorized ones are too expensive for his family to afford. Without one, he would have had to recover in his surgery in bed.

"God forgive who took it," Simmons said. "I hope God have mercy on his soul."

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