Homeless painter reunites with long-lost son

it's what we live by here at Cato you 11 News we stand for Houston with stories that expose wrongdoing and spotlight problems in our community but tonight we are standing for Houston in a much more personal way we are reuniting a family a few months ago we told you about a friendship between Houston Police and a homeless painter and with your social media likes and comments the story went viral and tonight our Melissa Correa reveals how that story led to a reunion between a father and the son who never knew him God gave me vivid imagination one of those fantastically creative ones that still could never conjure up what was about to happen you always want some you know at 60 years old dude off Taylor had made peace with his life homeless for half of it a military veteran who served time in prison for the death of his brother a guy who relied on self-taught talent for food and the occasional cigar I deal with the bitterness of the loss and anguish which still lingers I only know of two sons decades after a separation with his family a divide that happened before the birth of his second son definitely nothing wrong with my heart I just wasn't able to use it so his heart pours onto canvas more than a year ago Houston police stumbled into the painter Shack and they're fast friendship led to a boost in business and a story on K Joe u11 seen by Kevin I was pretty certain it was him Taylor's second son growing up Kevin had little to work with not much was shared about his dad you see Kevin and his family moved to Colorado father and son met briefly when Kevin was three and had 8 years old he learned his dad lived in Houston and the search began as a boy he scoured phone books wrote and mailed letters to anyone with the same last name you returned letters over the years and mostly no response from anybody a few years ago this photo surfaced and that compelled Kevin to write one more letter an invitation to his Marine Corps graduation the letter was returned crushed but still with hope the handwritten quest morphed into an intense online search it just so happened that a video came up and it's a the painter and I knew that he was artistic Kevin couldn't call police fast enough I said I saw a story and I believe the man that is in the video is my father and somebody get back to me captain Bainbridge did and in an unmarked patrol car a new friend helped to mend old wounds hi I'm Kevin oh I know I just want to say just want to say it wherever you want to say we wanna do I can't I don't care I don't care I don't care oh the old man I never had this opportunity he never had anything against you my whole life tell me who you are you know I ain't hurt in a long time I might need here - yeah and I'm 60 years old I'm Kevin your son thank you very much the bond between a father and son is one not even the most vivid imagination could conceive what a story so I think everyone wants to know at this point Melissa where are kevin and his father tonight well the family reunion was such a happy time so much joy as you just saw but as we know the future is uncertain Kevin had to go back to Colorado you see he's taking some college classes but he is working to get his father help the painter meanwhile is still in North Houston and he's still struggling over all the years and to see that moment come together it's incredible you think about it you think about the missed opportunity yeah and the fact that they have this opportunity now it's great because of your story thanks Melissa thank you and if you're looking for a missing family member this might help you just go to our website koat.com that's where you'll find tips on how to make the most of your search and get contact information for groups that also may be able to help that is wonderful

Channel: KHOU 11

Views: 4,046,447

Keywords: houston, khou, khou11, news

Id: H3ILgjF1u80

Length: 5min 20sec (320 seconds)

Published: Sat Oct 29 2016