By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com
Baltimore resident Darryl Wiggins has not been seen or heard from since Sept. 2, 2022. The 33-year-old, who rented a home on the 600 block of Wyanoke Ave., disappeared after having a disagreement with his landlord days before he went missing.
Wiggins’ family says the landlord removed his belongings from the
home and took off his door. But, on the morning of his disappearance, a court ruled that Wiggins had a right to be there as his rent was paid. He returned to the home to take measurements for a new door. After sending them to a friend who planned to help him replace the door, he vanished.
His mother, Diana Baines, wants answers.
“I sometimes feel that Darryl has been forgotten about. There haven’t been any updates in a very long time, and I don’t hear from the Baltimore Police Department unless I reach out to them,” said Baines. “I’m not saying they aren’t doing their job; I have to trust they’re doing their best. I just feel, given the circumstances, we should be further along than we are.”
She described Wiggins as a generous person who is a stranger to no one. He is an avid Baltimore Ravens fan and often had game day superstitions.
Before he disappeared, Wiggins was regularly involved in his family’s lives. Baines was largely a single mother, and Wiggins viewed himself as the “man of the house.” He also stepped in to be a father figure for his nieces and nephews, attending school and extracurricular activities.
Wiggins was just starting to get a moving business off the ground when he went missing.
“Darryl is very family-oriented,” said Baines. “He loved when our family would get together whether it be for the holidays or just someone’s birthday. He lived for his family.”
The Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) provided Wiggins’ missing person’s report, but said it could not comment on ongoing investigations. In the report, police noted that Wiggins did not experience any mental illnesses or health problems. They also confirmed that he typically speaks with Baines every day.
Her last conversation with her son came at 10:27 a.m. on Sept. 2.
The day after Wiggins went missing, Baines said a friend came over to drop off his paycheck. After knocking on the door and receiving no answer, he asked Wiggins’ landlord whether he’d seen him.
According to Baines, the landlord said he hadn’t seen him and didn’t know who the friend was talking about.
Wiggins’ family and friends have been devastated by his disappearance, his mother said. And the lack of leads in his case has her feeling exasperated.
“I feel it’s not the police but the entire system failing my son,” said Baines. “Every turn I have made to try and get attention to his disappearance has made it nowhere. I feel like we have no rights.”
She urged the public to come forward and contact BPD with any information regarding Wiggins’ whereabouts.
“The smallest of things can make the biggest difference in the investigation. I think a lot of times people don’t think they know something and they do, or people know something but they’re afraid to come forward. I just want everybody to know the feeling is different when it affects your family.”
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