Mother Will Never Give Up Searching For Toddler Abducted From Washington Bowling Alley
Two age progressions were recently released to help find Teekah Lewis, who is now in her 20s. If you have any information on this case, please contact The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) directly: 1-800-THE-LOST.
NCMEC
On Jan. 23, 1999, authorities say then 2-year-old Teekah Lewis was abducted from a busy Takoma, Washington bowling alley. Reportedly, Teekah was playing in the arcade area when someone abducted her from the New Frontier Lanes Bowling Alley.
Teekah’s mom, Theresa Czapiewski, spoke to The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about her daughter. She said family members were bowling and everyone had an eye on Teekah. In the blink of an eye, her child was gone.
Czapiewski said, "People are getting found everyday. You know, people are reuniting with their families after 50 years. It could be Teekah.”
In December 2022, Louisiana State University FACES lab created an age enhanced photo of what Teeka may look like today. In addition, NCMEC produced an additional photo of Teekah. NCMEC said Czapiewski is hoping both images will help to identify Teeka today.
Czapiewski previously told PEOPLE, "I've missed 20 years of birthdays, 21 Christmases. I've missed my baby's first day of preschool, kindergarten, graduation — I've missed all of that."
According to NCMEC, a 1990's maroon or dark colored Pontiac was seen near the location. The vehicle was speeding out of the parking lot.
A witness told KCPQ he saw a man "rushing" with a child out of the bowling alley. NCMEC reports that Tacoma Police said the person spotted at the bowling alley was described as a white male, 30-40 years old, husky build, pockmarked face, brown hair, wavy, thick mustache, and a blue checkered flannel shirt.
In January 2023, on the 24th anniversary of Teekah’s disappearance, the family and community held a candlelight vigil to honor this case. Czapiewski told King 5 she holds one of these vigils every year in hopes Teekah will attend.
"I will never give up, and one day, I'm going to get my answers," Czapiewski concluded.
If you have any information on this case, please contact The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) directly: 1-800-THE-LOST.