The Abduction of Teekah Lewis: A Two-Decade Unsolved Mystery

Written By Kona Gallagher

Teekah Latres Lewis, born on July 4, 1996, to Theresa English and Robert Lewis, had a childhood marked by both love and tragedy. Teekah's story is a heart-wrenching one, as she became another name on the long list of missing or murdered Indigenous women. This blog post delves into the details of Teekah's life and her inexplicable disappearance from a Tacoma bowling alley in 1999. Despite years of investigation and searching, Teekah's case remains unsolved.

Teekah's Early Life

Teekah was the fourth child of Theresa English. Her father, Robert Lewis, was Black, and her mother was of White and Native American descent, part of the Chippewa tribe in Washington State. Tragically, her life would take a devastating turn when she disappeared in 1999.

Teekah's family described her as a "mature" toddler who was both self-sufficient and a momma's girl. Her father, Robert, had a troubled past, often in and out of trouble with the law. At the time of Teekah's disappearance, he was incarcerated for first-degree theft, leaving Teekah without a father figure.

The Fateful Evening at New Frontier Lanes

On a cold, rainy evening of January 23, 1999, Teekah's family gathered at New Frontier Lanes in Tacoma, a popular bowling alley. They were there to enjoy a night of family bonding and fun. Around 8:30 pm, Theresa, her boyfriend, and their children arrived, accompanied by other family members. They rented two lanes in the bowling alley, joining a crowd of patrons.

The bowling alley was bustling with activity that night, as it was league night, and even had an off-duty Tacoma police officer for security. Teekah, a typical toddler, spent her time bouncing between the family's lanes and the nearby video game area. Around 10:15 pm, she was engrossed in a car racing game called Cruisin' World.

Like any vigilant parent, Theresa kept an eye on Teekah while tending to her other child. However, when she turned her attention back to Teekah, her daughter had vanished. Panic set in, and Theresa immediately alerted her family, initiating a frantic search within and around the bowling alley.

Despite thorough efforts, including restroom checks, inquiries with other patrons, and searches in the parking lot, Teekah was nowhere to be found. The off-duty police officer at the scene sealed off exits, made announcements over the intercom, and even checked employee-only areas, but Teekah remained elusive. Law enforcement was called to the scene, and a massive search operation began.

The Search for Teekah

Police acted swiftly, launching a search spanning a 1.5-mile radius around the bowling alley. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department mobilized search and rescue volunteers, some with dogs, and the FBI joined the efforts. Despite helicopters scouring the area, no trace of Teekah was discovered. By Sunday evening, authorities announced their belief that Teekah Lewis had been abducted.

In the days following her disappearance, investigators and volunteers conducted a door-to-door search, interviewed local sex offenders, and established a 24-hour tip line. While Theresa was given a polygraph test and the family was questioned, the focus wasn't on them as suspects. Still, the results of the polygraph test were not disclosed to the public.

A Possible Lead Emerges

As investigators struggled to develop strong leads, an intriguing lead surfaced. In a news report, a witness identified as "John" revealed that he had seen a man with a pockmarked face accompanied by a little girl at the bowling alley on the night of Teekah's disappearance. This revelation raised suspicions, as the man's behavior had struck John as odd.

Detective Steven Reopelle, reviewing the case 20 years later, connected John's account with an earlier observation from someone who noticed a person with a pockmarked face acting strangely during a reenactment at the bowling alley. This pockmarked man was now a person of interest, described as white, 5'11" with a husky build, shoulder-length curly brown hair, and a thick mustache.

Multiple Suspects Emerge

Further investigation uncovered other witnesses who saw two men near Teekah on the night she vanished. One of these men was described as a 30-40-year-old white male, approximately 5'11" and 200 pounds, with a pockmarked face, brown hair, and a thick mustache. The second man, believed to be in the same age range, stood at around 5'9", weighed 200 pounds, and had long black hair, dirty jeans, and a grey jacket with a sports logo.

Additional Suspicious Incidents

During the initial investigation into Teekah's disappearance, several disturbing incidents involving children in or around New Frontier Lanes came to light. These incidents included a sexual assault on a four-year-old boy, an encounter with a man attempting to lure a six-year-old boy away, and an unsettling incident near a park close to the bowling alley. Each incident involved a man matching the description of the pockmarked man . However, the connection between these incidents and Teekah's case remains uncertain.

A Long and Heart-Wrenching Search

Despite extensive efforts, Teekah Lewis remains missing, and her case has gone cold. Over the years, critical information appears to have been lost or overlooked, adding to the frustration of investigators, the family, and those following the case.

In recent developments, an age-progressed image of Teekah was created, offering renewed hope and a powerful reminder of the enduring quest to find her. Theresa, Teekah's mother, continues to hold out hope, expressing her desire to reunite with her daughter and bring her home.

The disappearance of Teekah Lewis is a tragic, unsolved mystery that has haunted her family and investigators for over two decades. Despite numerous leads and eyewitness accounts, the case remains open, with critical details potentially lost in the passage of time. Teekah's story serves as a somber reminder of the countless unsolved cases and the enduring hope of reuniting missing loved ones with their families.

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Kona Gallagher
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