POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) continues its investigation into the disappearance of Lakeland Air Force veteran Brian Edward Klecha, who vanished under mysterious circumstances in late 2017. In commemoration of the seventh anniversary of his disappearance, the FDLE has released a video interview, urging the public to come forward with any information that could help solve the case.
In the months leading up to his disappearance, Klecha, then 35, was described as being in a period of transition. He had moved out of his residence of three years, taken a leave of absence from his primary employer at Disney Corporation, and began driving for Uber. His last recorded fare was in December 2017.
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Klecha was last in contact with his mother on December 26, 2017. The following day, December 27, he was seen withdrawing $200 from the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union in Auburndale. Surveillance footage confirmed it was Klecha, who appeared to be alone, unhurried, and driving his own vehicle.
“This transaction is significant because it provides the only confirmed sighting of Brian and gave investigators a key financial lead,” said FDLE Tampa Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell.
On February 11, 2018, Klecha’s Jeep Patriot was found abandoned near the Morgan Street exit on State Road 618 in Tampa.
Investigators determined the vehicle had been involved in two separate car accidents before being abandoned. The first was a minor fender bender, but the second caused significant damage. Attempts by the lienholder and Klecha’s mother to contact him were unsuccessful, raising alarms about his safety.
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Investigators later located Klecha’s cell phone and learned that he had left behind two cats he deeply cared for, further suggesting that he did not leave voluntarily.
FDLE agents believe Klecha may have been a victim of domestic or drug-related abuse. His abrupt disappearance, coupled with the abandonment of his belongings and pets, has left investigators convinced that he did not choose to vanish.
“We have to believe there’s information out there that can solve this case,” Brutnell stated. “We’re calling on the public to come forward with any details, no matter how small.”
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Klecha’s mother has been steadfast in her hope to find her son. During interviews with investigators, she expressed her determination to bring Brian home, regardless of the circumstances.
“This family is in limbo, and someone out there knows something,” Brutnell emphasized. “We implore anyone with information to come forward, not just for the investigation, but to give Brian’s family the answers they deserve.”
If you have information about the whereabouts or disappearance of Brian Edward Klecha, please call Special Agent Sean McEntee at (813) 878-7347.
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