Baltimore aunt confesses to harboring child who was missing for 6 months
The Baltimore woman who confessed to harboring her 9-year-old nephew, who was missing for six months, remains in jail following a Friday court appearance.
Denise Day, 60, was arrested Wednesday in the 500 block of Chart Avenue. During an interview with BPD's Missing Persons Unit, Day confessed to helping her nephew, Tristan King, elude police for nearly five months, officials said.
She is facing charges of abducting a child under the age of 12 and abduction of a child by a relative, according to police.
Inside the courtroom
Denise Day appeared in court behind a video screen. The judge learned that Day admitted to using drugs and dealt with other health conditions.
The public defender representing Day said, "This is a challenging situation," saying Day is a 'vulnerable person' with medical needs. The public defender added that Tristan wasn't harmed in Day's care and has a positive relationship with his great aunt.
The judge said plainly, "She needs help."
The judge feared that if she released Day on bond, Tristan would try to escape CPS custody again and go back to Day.
The judge said Day is a danger but would release her to an inpatient program so that she receives the care she needs. She said if that can be done, the court will hold another hearing.
Child found
King, 9, was found at a home in the Curtis Bay area in mid-March following an anonymous tip to police.
He had been missing since Sept. 24, 2025, and was found nearly two miles from where he initially went missing, according to our partners at the Baltimore Banner. He was found asleep in a bed with Day on March 13 following a multi-agency search.
The child was taken to a hospital for medical and psychological evaluations after he was found. According to the Banner, King has since been placed in a treatment foster home, often used for children who have behavioral or medical conditions and require additional supervision.
"We owe Tristan action, not excuses, and we will keep working to make sure no child falls through the cracks like this again," Gov. Moore said in a statement after King was found.
King goes missing
According to the Banner, Day was assigned as King's legal guardian after his grandmother had a stroke and went to live in a nursing home. He was placed in the care of the State Department of Human Services after Day gave him up.
The Maryland Department of Human Services lost King when he ran from a caseworker, according to the Banner.
A close friend reported to WJZ that he himself lived with Tristan, his grandmother, and Day before a fire damaged their home on Horton Ave.
"They put me up, let me stay here," he said. "I watched after Tristan."
The man, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he doesn't believe Day wanted to harm Tristan and that her intentions were pure.
"It's unfortunate…I sympathize and feel for [them]. Tristan is a unique case," he said, "It was really just to keep him out of the system."
