BALTIMORE, Md. — Nine-year-old Tristan King was found safe Friday morning at a Curtis Bay home after surviving nearly six months on Baltimore’s streets, ending one of Maryland’s longest missing child cases.
Baltimore Police located King following a tip to their Missing Persons Unit, discovering him less than two miles from where he first disappeared in September. The boy was immediately transported to a local hospital for medical and psychological evaluations after enduring one of the city’s coldest winters on record. King had been missing since September 24, 2025, when he jumped from a caseworker’s vehicle while being transported by Maryland’s Department of Human Services. His case drew statewide attention as authorities struggled to locate a child who had fallen through multiple safety nets designed to protect vulnerable youth.
The discovery came after months of coordinated searching by Baltimore Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and federal partners. King was found at a residence on Filbert Street in Curtis Bay around Friday morning, according to Mayor Brandon Scott’s office. “I share the relief and gratitude of all of the Baltimoreans who have hoped and prayed for Tristan’s safe return for months,” Scott said in a statement. “I want to thank the Baltimore Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and all our partners who worked tirelessly to bring Tristan home, as well as the community members who came forward with information to help investigators.” Officers took King to an area hospital where he received comprehensive evaluations. His grandmother and legal guardian, Donna White, who has been living in a nursing home since suffering a stroke last year, reunited with King by phone Friday morning.
Authorities believe individuals helped conceal King during his disappearance, which partially explains the extended search duration. Mayor Scott’s office indicated the investigation remains active and ongoing, with potential criminal charges pending for “individuals who may have helped conceal Tristan or obstruct law enforcement.” The U.S. Marshals Service played a crucial role in the search effort, as they possess authority to physically restrain missing children who attempt to flee – powers that Baltimore Police lack when dealing with children King’s age. “The U.S. Marshals Service supports state and local partners in recovering critically missing children across the nation,” said Clinton J. Fuchs, U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland. “We are extremely proud of the Baltimore Police Department and grateful for their extraordinary efforts in locating and safely recovering this nine-year-old child.” However, police reported they alone conducted Friday’s successful recovery operation.
King’s disappearance followed a devastating series of events that left the diagnosed special needs child without stable housing or care. His troubles began in May 2025 when his grandmother Donna White, his legal guardian, suffered a stroke and required nursing home care. Baltimore City Public Schools subsequently unenrolled King for missing more than 10 days of class, removing him from the educational system two weeks after his grandmother’s medical emergency. In late July, a fire destroyed the home where King lived with his great-aunt Denise Day, who battles fentanilo addiction. The pair lived in a tent behind their burned home before briefly staying in a state-funded motel. Day eventually contacted Maryland’s Department of Human Services, admitting she could no longer care for King due to her addiction struggles. When caseworkers attempted to transport King on September 23, he jumped from their vehicle and vanished into South Baltimore’s streets.
The search exposed significant failures within Baltimore’s child protection systems and law enforcement response protocols. According to reporting by The Baltimore Banner, messages expressing concern for King’s wellbeing sent to Human Services workers often went unacknowledged during the initial weeks of his disappearance. Baltimore Police took months to interview people close to King, and the department mistakenly closed his missing persons case at one point during the investigation. The case highlighted policy gaps that prevent both police and Human Services from restraining children King’s age, creating situations where vulnerable youth can disappear into urban environments. King was eventually transferred to Sharp-Leadenhall Elementary/Middle School, a specialized facility serving 29 students with special needs, though his attendance remained sporadic. School psychologist Lisa Austin worked to secure temporary hotel accommodations for King through state programs, but the arrangement proved insufficient to address his complex needs.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore emphasized the need for systemic changes to prevent similar cases. “Today, Maryland breathes a prayer of relief that Tristan King has been found after months of fear, heartbreak, and uncertainty,” Moore said Friday. “The first priority now is making sure Tristan is safe, supported, and surrounded by the care he needs to begin healing. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring him home — including law enforcement, child welfare professionals, community members, and every person who refused to stop looking for him. We owe Tristan action, not excuses, and we will keep working to make sure no child falls through the cracks like this again.” Family members who searched for King expressed relief mixed with concern about his long-term placement. Heather Thomas, White’s stepdaughter who participated in search efforts last fall, spoke with King via FaceTime while he was hospitalized. She described him as quiet but responsive, noting his hair had grown long and he was reluctant to remove his shoes.
King will likely enter Maryland’s foster care system, though specific placement details remain confidential under state law. The Maryland Department of Human Services, the same agency that initially lost custody of King, will determine his next placement. “We are grateful to the law enforcement partners and community members who came together to find Tristan,” Human Services spokesperson Ben Shnider said. “Now that he has been located, we are focused squarely on making sure that he receives the medical attention and support that he needs.” Thomas, who previously considered taking King into her family, acknowledged he may require more specialized support than her household can provide. “We want him to have what every kid should have,” Thomas said. “I want him to worry about normal kid things, not what he’s going to eat or where he’s going to sleep at night. I want him to go to school and learn to read and everything.”
King remains hospitalized while authorities complete their evaluation and determine appropriate long-term care arrangements. Officials declined to release additional details about his condition or the circumstances of his recovery, citing privacy protections and the ongoing investigation into potential criminal charges against those who may have assisted in concealing him.
