TACOMA, Wash. — On the 20th anniversary of the day her daughter disappeared, the mother of Teekah Lewis again held a candlelight vigil, but this year’s event brought additional exposure to the cold case.
Teekah was 2-1/2 years old when she disappeared from a bowling alley in Tacoma. Police believe she was abducted.
Every year, Theresa Lewis, Teekah's mother, holds the vigil at the location where the girl vanished -- 702 South Center Street - to make sure her daughter isn't forgotten.
But this year, she had help. The Washington State Patrol Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit unveiled new Homeward Bound semi-trucks displaying Teekah Lewis’ missing poster.
The poster on the semi-trailer includes age-progression photos as well as a photo of her as a toddler.
Homeward Bound is a program dedicated to finding missing children in Washington state.
The program was spearheaded by WSP Trooper Renee Pagett in 2005. It was her idea to place large images of missing kids on the sides of semi-trailers because of their high visibility.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one out of six children are recovered due to members of the public seeing a picture.
The new trucks, provided by Kam-Way Transportation, also honor Padgett, who died in September after a long battle with cancer.
The Homeward Bound program ended after the trucking company Padgett worked with later moved locations.
But the program was resurrected this year when Kam-Way trucking contacted the State Patrol, offering funding and support to re-start the program.
The trailer was unveiled at Teekah’s vigil on Wednesday at the former site of the New Frontier Bowling Lanes, where she disappeared. The location is now a Home Depot parking lot.
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