'Nothing is lining up': Palm Beach Gardens Lyft driver, 74, missing since Monday
PALM BEACH GARDENS — A 74-year-old Lyft driver from Palm Beach Gardens has gone missing since Monday, and city police are asking for the public’s help in finding him.
Gary Levin's family reported him missing after he was last seen on Monday afternoon, the city of Palm Beach Gardens posted on its Facebook page. Police described Levin as having gray hair and brown eyes. He stands about 5 feet 7 inches and weighs 170 pounds.
A message left for a Palm Beach Gardens police spokesperson Thursday morning was not immediately returned.
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Lindsay DiBetta, Levin’s daughter, said Thursday that she and other family members believe he was working in his capacity as a driver for the ride-sharing company Lyft at the time he went missing.
Levin’s Lyft app was last active shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Monday, DiBetta said. It was unclear whether he has with a passenger.
DiBetta said her father’s cellphone has been off since Monday, but there is evidence that his vehicle, a red, 4-door Kia Stinger with Florida license plate 81ABTY, has been mobile the past few days. Traffic highway scans have placed the vehicle in Miami, Okeechobee County and Sumter County. The car was last spotted Wednesday in the Gainesville area.
“It’s very unlike him to be driving around with his phone off,” DiBetta said. “He would have told us if he was taking a long Lyft ride. Nor does he know anyone in those areas.”
DiBetta said she fears that someone may have taken her father's car from him. While police investigators have continued their search, family members are attempting to obtain additional information from Lyft, Kia and Verizon, Levin’s cellphone provider.
“Nothing is lining up,” DiBetta said. “We kind of don’t believe that he is with the car. We’re sort of the under the impression that somebody took the car. We need a better timeline. “
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DiBetta said her father has driven for multiple ride-share companies, including the past five for Lyft. Levin moved to South Florida from Philadelphia two years ago after retiring from a career in sales.
DiBetta described her father as someone who loves to drive and who enjoys meeting new people and said working for Lyft has been a way to combine those interests.
“He enjoys driving in general, so he figured this would be a good gig for him,” she said.
A spokesperson for Lyft released a statement Thursday on the company's behalf.
"Our thoughts are with Mr. Levin's family and loved ones during this deeply concerning time," the statement said. "We've been in touch with his family to offer our support, and have reached out to law enforcement to offer our assistance with their investigation."
Anyone with information on Levin’s location is asked to contact the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department at 561-799-4445.
Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lyft driver, 74, goes missing while driving for ride-sharing company
