Missing Baltimore Boy Tristan King, 9, Found Safe After Months-Long Search

Tristan King, the 9-year-old Baltimore boy who had been missing since September 24, 2025, was found safe Friday morning at a residence in the Curtis Bay neighborhood, ending a nearly six-month search that drew in agencies from across local, state, and federal levels.

Baltimore Police Department officers located Tristan after the department's Missing Persons Unit received a tip and followed up on it. The Curtis Bay address where he was found sits roughly two miles from the Brooklyn neighborhood where he was last seen. After locating him, officers transported Tristan to an area hospital, where he received medical and psychological evaluations.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the recovery and credited a coordinated investigation that included the Baltimore Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other local and federal partners. "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. "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."

The investigation is not closed. Officials said potential charges for individuals who may have helped conceal Tristan or obstruct law enforcement are pending, though no names or formal filings have been made public. Officials added they would release no further details to protect the child's privacy and well-being.

Gov. Wes Moore responded to the news with both relief and a pointed warning about systemic accountability. "Today, Maryland breathes a prayer of relief that Tristan King has been found after months of fear, heartbreak, and uncertainty," Moore said. "The first priority now is making sure Tristan is safe, supported, and surrounded by the care he needs to begin healing." In a separate statement, Moore went further: "We owe Tristan action, not excuses, and we will keep working to make sure no child falls through the cracks like this again."

That last remark carries particular weight in light of reporting by The Baltimore Banner, cited by CBS Baltimore, that the Maryland Department of Human Services originally lost track of Tristan. According to that reporting, the agency will also determine where Tristan goes next. The Maryland Department of Human Services has not issued a public statement corroborating or responding to that account.

For investigators, the resolution came down to persistence and a community willing to come forward. As the city's official statement noted, the outcome "reflects the persistence of investigators and the importance of strong partnerships among law enforcement agencies and the community.