An elderly man was beaten and robbed in his home at 11 pm Wednesday, at 2011 State Route 39 in Madison Township, at the Interstate-71 interchange.

The Richland County Sheriff's office was called at 8:07 am Thursday when a passer-by discovered 71-year-old Albert Toby has spent the entire chilly night outside, bound around the arms and legs with rope and gagged with duct tape, after he had crawled 40-50 feet to where he could be seen from the road.

Deputies arrived to find Toby injured and bleeding from the nose and mouth. He was taken to Med-Central Mansfield Hospital where he's being evaluated in the emergency room.  Doctors have not determined if he will be admitted or treated and released.

Toby was conscious and able to tell deputies two men had forced their way into his mobile home.

They assaulted and robbed him of undisclosed items.

It is not known if Toby knew the suspects, and he could not provide detailed descriptions of them.

Detective Bob Mack is leading the investigation.