A couple from Kansas City, filled with worry, flew all the way to San Francisco to scour the streets of the Tenderloin neighborhood for their missing son. Over the weekend, Dorrell King’s parents walked up and down the city’s streets, hoping to find any trace of their son.
Crystal King, King’s mother, expressed her feelings by stating that they had traveled a long distance to convey to King that they miss him and want him to be safe.
According to Dorrell King’s parents, their 43-year-old son is currently homeless and battling addiction. He was initially reported missing back in November of 2023. Law enforcement officials have informed the concerned parents that their son might be located in the vicinity of O’Farrell and Turk streets, which is a common spot for drug users and people who are homeless to congregate.
Dorzell King, the father of the person in question, expressed his pain and disappointment by stating, “As a father, it hurts, and it’s a very painful thing to know he has sunken to this level.”
Urban Alchemy, a local nonprofit organization, was instrumental in the search for Dorrell. According to Al Ibarra, who works with unhoused individuals, it is not uncommon for him to lose contact with individuals he has been working with for months.
According to Ibarra, homelessness is often accompanied by bad news, although there are occasional glimmers of hope. It’s an unfortunate situation for those affected, as they all come from families and have experienced something in their lives that has led them to being homeless.
Despite the distance of more than 1,500 miles from home, Dorrell’s parents never gave up on their search for their son in the city.
After watching KRON’s news story, JJ Smith, an anti-drug advocate who assists homeless individuals in the Tenderloin area to access services, spotted Dorrell in the Mission District early Monday morning. Smith’s intervention led to the reunion of Dorrell with his parents.
In an interview with KRON, Smith expressed his disbelief at how quickly he went from watching the news to seeing Dorrell in person. “It all happened so fast, I couldn’t believe it myself,” he said.
When Smith called out his name, Dorrell initially hesitated to talk to him. However, Smith had already spoken to Dorrell’s parents on the phone, so he walked up to him and handed him the phone. Dorrell was taken aback when he realized that his family was on the line.
According to Dorrell’s parents, their plan is to support their son in his journey to recovery by urging him to come back home to Kansas and prioritize his well-being.
According to Smith, it’s important to give those who are facing difficulties an opportunity to turn their lives around. In an interview with KRON, he emphasized, “There are numerous individuals out there who are struggling and find themselves on the streets. For some, this is because they fear returning home. If your loved ones are searching for you, that means they care and can offer assistance.”
