Tulsa Police Find 3-Year-Old Missing Since July 4

Tulsa police and the Department of Human Services (DHS) have been actively searching for three-year-old King Smith, who went missing on July 4, 2025. The boy's mother, who is unhoused, reportedly paid another homeless woman $50 to take King, who was then seen at a Fourth of July gathering and later handed over to an unidentified man believed to be the child's father. Earlier concerns about King's welfare were raised when Catholic Charities reported possible abuse and troubling behavior, prompting DHS involvement and a court-ordered pickup. Despite efforts to locate King and his parents, the child's whereabouts remained unknown until Tulsa Police announced he had been found and was now in police custody, being handed over to DHS. Authorities have not made any arrests in connection with the case. This case highlights the complexities of child welfare investigations involving transient families and the challenges in ensuring the safety of vulnerable children.