Three years after Orlando “Shorty” King disappeared on Christmas Day 2022, his family continues a tireless search for answers. King was last seen leaving a store in Torreon, a small community on the Navajo Nation between Crownpoint and Cuba, New Mexico, before being spotted later at a nearby home. He was 42, stood 6 feet 1 inch tall, and weighed about 170 pounds at the time of his disappearance.
AdvocacyCon brings the case to a wider audience
King’s sisters, Georgianna and Janice Castillo, shared his story at AdvocacyCon, a true‑crime conference held at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The event gathers families of missing and murdered loved ones from across the country to advocate, connect, and find support. “We’ve been searching for him,” Georgianna said. “We want to know what happened.” The sisters described King as a caring, outgoing person who loved basketball, fishing, and working on vehicles. He was known for encouraging relatives, listening to their problems, and lifting spirits with humor.
Family remembers the man behind the case
“He was very kind. He was always happy and humorous,” Georgianna recalled. “If anybody was having a bad day, he was one of those people who would come in and make it happy and joyful.” Janice added that King helped keep the family close by organizing activities and offering a listening ear. “He was always there to comfort you when you needed it,” she said, noting how much his hugs are missed.
Hope and determination despite hardship
The uncertainty surrounding King’s disappearance has weighed heavily on his large, close‑knit family, especially his mother. “We just hope that he comes home because it’s really hard on my parents, especially my mom,” Janice said. “She misses him so much.” The family says they cannot move forward without knowing what happened, but they remain committed to searching and advocating for information.
Georgianna emphasized the importance of community support at the conference. “There are a lot of other missing people, missing women and relatives. We all come together, and that makes us not give up hope. We’re all supporting each other, and that’s a really big thing.” The Castillos are asking anyone with even the smallest detail about King’s whereabouts to come forward.
How to help
King has a medical condition that requires critical care, making a timely resolution even more urgent. Anyone with information, no matter how minor, is urged to call Navajo Nation police at 505‑786‑2050. The family thanks the community for any assistance and remains hopeful that continued advocacy will bring the answers they need.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
