Deputies searching for missing engineer

TAMPA -- A 25-year-old Tampa man has vanished and deputies are seeking the public's help in locating him.

Charles London Beck, left, didn't show up to work last Thursday at noon, when he was expected, and hasn't been heard from since, his boss said this afternoon.

Beck, an engineer at Marlin Engineering in Tampa for the past year, called his mother at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, after he returned from a business trip in Tallahassee, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Beck's mother, Genevieve Beck, contacted the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office about her son on Tuesday, saying it is very out of character for her son to not stay in contact with his family or employer.

Calls to Beck's cell phone have been unsuccessful; Carter said it sounds as though his phone is turned off.

Deputies searching Beck's apartment at Hidden Palms Apartments, 14505 Audubon Trace, said there was no sign of forced entry at the house.

Beck drives a 2002 Silver Mercedes C230k 2-door hatchback with Florida tag W102LC, which is also missing.

"He's never missed a day of work, nor has he ever called in sick," said Mike Register, manager of Tampa's tight-knit Marlin Engineering branch. "I hope everything works out for the best and there is no harm upon him."

Beck is described by sheriff's officials as a white man, about 5-foot-5, 160 pounds with brown eyes, black hair and a light complexion. Register said he believes Beck's ethnicity is Filipino.

Anyone with information about Beck is asked to call (813) 247-8200 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-873-8477.

- Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer