U.S. Marshals Locate Missing 9-Year-Old Tristan King in Baltimore After Nearly Six Months Search
Child located in Curtis Bay; taken for medical evaluation
Tristan King, a 9-year-old Baltimore boy reported missing in late September 2025, has been located in the city, ending a search that lasted nearly six months. Federal law enforcement officials found him Friday morning, March 13, 2026, in Baltimore’s Curtis Bay area.
After he was located, Tristan was taken to a hospital for evaluation, a standard step in missing-child recoveries to assess immediate health needs and determine next steps for care and supervision.
Where he was found and the timeline of the disappearance
Tristan was reported missing on Sept. 24, 2025, after he was last seen in the 3500 block of Potee Street in South Baltimore. Authorities had released limited public detail about the circumstances of his disappearance during the investigation, while continuing to seek public tips.
On March 13, he was found in Curtis Bay at a residence on Filbert Street, less than two miles from where he was last reported missing, based on the location details provided by people familiar with the recovery and the neighborhood geography.
Next steps: custody decisions and child-welfare placement
With Tristan located, attention shifts to decisions about where he will live once medically cleared. Those determinations generally involve child-welfare authorities, who evaluate safety risks, available family placements, and foster-care options.
In cases where a child’s prior living situation cannot be verified as safe—or where there is uncertainty about supervision and care—state child-welfare agencies may pursue placement outside the home while assessments are completed.
What is known about the recovery operation
The U.S. Marshals Service has participated in multi-agency efforts in Maryland aimed at recovering missing children, often in coordination with local police and child-welfare partners. Such operations typically combine investigative leads, community tips, and coordinated field searches, particularly when a child is believed to be within a defined area.
Tristan King was 9 years old at the time he was found on March 13, 2026.
He was reported missing on Sept. 24, 2025, from South Baltimore.
He was located in the Curtis Bay neighborhood and taken to a hospital for evaluation.
The recovery closes the missing-person search and begins a separate process focused on medical clearance, safety planning, and long-term placement.
Authorities have urged anyone with information relevant to missing-child investigations in Baltimore to report tips promptly to law enforcement so leads can be assessed and acted on quickly.