Vigil to be held for missing Tacoma child: ‘It will be a special one’
Teekah Lewis went missing from Tacoma bowling alley 27 years ago. Her family is asking the Tacoma community to join them for a vigil on the anniversary of Teekah’s disappearance.
While her family bowled at the former New Frontier Lanes in the 4700 block of Centret Street, Teekah, who was 2 years old, disappeared on Jan. 23, 1999. She was last seen playing in the arcade area, and police believe she was kidnapped.
Teekah was last seen wearing a Tweety Bird T-shirt, white sweatpants and red, white and black Air Jordan tennis shoes.
Theresa Czapiewski, Teekah’s mother, told The News Tribune it has been a hard 27 years since her daughter went missing.
“All I want right now is closure. I’ve always asked all these years is closure to my daughter’s case,” she said.
The last time Teekah’s name made headlines was in May 2025 during a search at a Tacoma house on South Gunnison Street. Police and detectives spent three days searching the home after receiving a tip in Teekah’s case. The search ended with no results.
Czapiewski said she has not heard much from investigators regarding her daughter’s case.
“I will never give up on finding my daughter, regardless if it is bad news or good news. I just want to know,” she said.
Czapiewski and her family are holding a candlelight vigil on Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at 4602 Center St. on the side of The Home Depot there. Czapiewski will speak as well as some of her daughters and her 11-year-old grandson.
This year, Czapiewski said, they are asking the community to come out and support her family for a special announcement that will be made during the vigil. She is also hoping interim Police Chief Patti Jackson and Mayor Anders Ibsen will attend.
“This vigil, yes, it’s the 27th anniversary, but this one will be a special one,” Czapiewski said.
More information on the candlelight vigil can be found on the “Help find Missing Teekah Lewis” Facebook page.
Anyone with information on Teekah’s disappearance can a leave an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.
