Amber Alert Issued for Missing 9-Year-Old Geon King in Durham, NC

An Amber Alert has been issued for 9-year-old Geon King-Parriett, who went missing from Durham, North Carolina, according to various reports.

Geon is described as a Black male, standing 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 100 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a black hoodie and sweatpants . Authorities believe he is with his biological mother, Mariah King.

Mariah King, a 33-year-old Black female, stands 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has brown hair, typically styled in a bun with a ponytail, and brown eyes. Mariah was last seen wearing gray sweatpants and a black crop top. The pair were last seen walking away from 202 South Benjamin Street on foot .

The Amber Alert system, an emergency notification mechanism, was activated to quickly disseminate information about Geon’s abduction to the public.

This system is designed to maximize public awareness and involvement to swiftly locate and recover abducted children . It was established in 1996, named in honor of Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered in Arlington, Texas. The tragic event led to the creation of the Amber Alert system to prevent similar incidents and aid in the recovery of abducted children .

In 2022, Texas reported the highest number of Amber Alerts, issuing 31 alerts. Georgia and Florida followed with 14 and 13 alerts, respectively. Other states and territories, including Connecticut, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, reported zero alerts that year .

Since its inception, the Amber Alert system has been instrumental in recovering approximately 1,200 children as of December 31, 2023. These alerts have also led to perpetrators abandoning their plans upon hearing the broadcast, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness in both preventing ongoing crimes and recovering missing children .

For an Amber Alert to be issued, specific criteria must be met, including the belief that a child under 18 has been abducted and is in imminent danger. Specific details about the child and suspect must also be available to facilitate public assistance in locating the missing child .

Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Geon King-Parriett or Mariah King to contact the Durham Police Department immediately at 919-475-2511 or to call 911. The community’s vigilance and prompt response to Amber Alerts are crucial in ensuring the safety and swift recovery of missing children .