Where Is Kenny Babich: Family Appeals To Community For Help In Finding Missing 39-Year-Old Son

UPDATE: Kenny Babich, Missing Nearly A Month, Found Safe: Family

A family is asking for the community’s help in locating a missing south suburban man whose last contact with family was on Sept. 3.

Family says Kenneth “Kenny” Babich, who will turn 40 at the end of this month, has struggled with substance abuse for over 25 years and is currently living on the streets. Although he is homeless, his mother, Holly, says her son always kept in touch with his family.

“He’s been in and out of detox programs,” Holly said. “His phone is dead. If he doesn’t have a phone, he’ll borrow somebody’s phone to call us. He’ll tell us to answer the phone even if we don’t recognize the number because it’s probably him.”

Kenny was also diligent about visiting his young sons and spending time with them at his ex-wife’s house. After several weeks passed without hearing from him, his family started to worry.

“His sons know their dad through FaceTiming and visits,” Holly told Patch. “This is uncharacteristic of him to go this long without contacting us. We haven’t heard a darn thing.”

Kenny was raised in Crestwood and attended Shepard High School. Now living in Tinley Park, his parents reported him missing to Tinley Park police, who could not immediately be reached for comment. He’s been known to frequent Oak Lawn, Robbins and on the city’s Northwest Side, particularly the Harlem-Irving Plaza in Norridge.

“He doesn't have a car. He has no possessions except for the clothes on his back,” Holly said. “He lives on the train.”

Throughout most of his adult life, Holly said her son has worked on and off in construction jobs. A therapist had diagnosed Kenny with bipolar disease, although his mother wonders if the mental illness was caused by decades of drug abuse. He’s also known to Crestwood police.

“He has a police record, so he’s been fingerprinted,” Holly said.

Four years ago, Kenny overdosed on fentanyl at a Crestwood vape shop. He was evicted from his mobile home in Worth a year and a half ago, according to family.

Kenny’s missing person flier has been shared on the Finding Dan Davis Facebook group, founded by Davis’ daughter, Wendy Davis, during her three-month search for her missing 59-year-old father. Davis was eventually found deceased behind a Blue Island trucking company last March.

Holly said sharing her missing son’s story on social media has garnered some leads. A woman called saying she thought she spotted Kenny at the Harlem-Irving Plaza in Norridge, one of the areas Kenny is known to frequent.

Another woman from a local hair salon thought she sighted Kenny at 147th Street and Cicero Avenue. The family is asking businesses in the area to please check their security video.

Hundreds more have shared Kenny’s missing person flier on social media and sent Holly their heartfelt wishes. They’ve checked the morgues in Cook and Will counties.

His family's task has been made harder by the fact they don’t know what clothing Kenny was wearing when he disappeared.

“It has been all-consuming,” Holly said. “If it weren’t for God and prayers from friends, I wouldn’t be handling it well at all.”

Meanwhile, Holly compares her current situation to a popular pastor, who talks about the two tracks of life: one smooth and easy, the other track fraught with obstacles and inclines.

“On one hand, my life is great. I have beautiful grandchildren,” Holly said. “On the other hand, I have a son who is struggling terribly with drug addiction.”

Kenneth Babich is 39 years old, white, 6-feet-four-inches tall, 200 pounds, with black/gray hair and brown eyes. He has a black-and-white skull tattoo on one hand and a colored skull on his other hand. Kenny also has a tattoo of a tree on his back with an image of Jesus. He’s been known to use public transportation, including CTA buses and trains.

Anyone with information about Kenny is asked to call 911 or the Tinley Park Police Department detective division at 708-444-5300; or text 708-307-3618.