ST. PETERSBURG — It was unlike Kevin Lawya to be late to work. So when he didn't show up June 29 to his job as the controller for Point Brittany Condominiums, his co-workers sensed something was wrong.
The porch light at Lawya's home at 2551 15th Ave. N was still lit Thursday afternoon, nearly a week since the polite, unassuming 56-year-old disappeared. Police are now investigating his disappearance as a missing person case, one in which they suspect foul play.
A fellow Point Brittany employee called Lawya when he failed to come to work June 29, but got no answer. Later, that same employee drove to Lawya's house. His truck, a 2009 Toyota Tacoma, was gone. No one was home.
On Monday, Lawya was still not at work. Police were called.
Officers found no signs of forced entry to the home, police said.
Lawya's dog, an older Labrador type, was inside, starved and thirsty, neighbors said. Lawya's co-worker took the dog.
Neighbors said the last time they saw Lawya was late in the evening June 28. The normally easy-going man appeared agitated when Terri Sickler's roommate saw his truck speed toward the house about 10:15 p.m.
"The car pulled in the driveway real quick," Sickler said. "I've never seen him do a hasty thing like that."
Other neighbors told police they heard activity in the home later that same evening. The next morning, Lawya and his truck were gone.
No one had any idea what might have happened to him until Wednesday. That's when police found Lawya's truck parked at the north side of Union Street S, a dead end at a fence bordering Interstate 275.
Investigators found signs of foul play inside the truck, police said. But there was no sign of what became of the man himself.
Lawya had lived at the single-family house in St. Petersburg's Kenwood neighborhood for more than 20 years. Neighbors knew he had a lot of visitors. But they didn't pry and neither did he. He was friendly, they said, waving and saying hello when others passed.
Detectives are asking that anyone with information about Lawya or his disappearance contact the St. Petersburg Police Department's communications center at (727) 893-7780.
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can also call the tip line at (727) 892-5000 or text a tip to (727) 420-8911.
Dan Sullivan can be reached at dsullivan@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8321.
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