The anguish of not knowing grips the family of Darius Clem, a 30-year-old man whose sudden disappearance from his workplace at the Empire QSL Port of New Orleans has left his loved ones in a state of desperate uncertainty. It has been over a week since Darius was last seen on the night of April 22, 2025, during his shift at the port facility on the Westbank. For a man known for his unwavering reliability and deep ties to his family and community, his absence is not just a mystery—it is a wound that deepens with each passing day.
Darius, described by those who know him as a pillar of dependability, was a devoted son, brother, boyfriend, and coworker. He was the kind of person who showed up, rain or shine, to his job at the port, where he worked diligently handling cargo operations along the Mississippi River. His family and friends paint a picture of a man who lived with quiet strength and integrity, someone who took his responsibilities seriously and cared deeply for those around him. “Darius doesn’t just vanish,” said his sister, Annqueania Stewart, her voice heavy with emotion. “He’s always been accountable. For him to disappear without a word, without a call—that’s not who he is. We are terrified, and we are desperate for answers.”
On the night of his disappearance, Darius clocked in for his shift as usual, ready to carry out his duties at the Empire QSL facility, a key hub for transloading cargo like steel bars and heavy equipment. But at some point during the night, he vanished. He did not clock out, and his personal belongings—items he would never willingly leave behind—were found at the job site. No one reported seeing him leave, and there has been no trace of him since. The absence of any clear incident or interaction that night only heightens the mystery, leaving his family grappling with questions that no one has been able to answer.
The Empire QSL Port, part of a network of terminals handling critical cargo operations, is a secure facility, which makes Darius’s disappearance all the more perplexing. How could a man go missing from such a controlled environment without any record or witness? His family is frustrated by the lack of transparency and urgency from authorities and the port’s management. Coworkers, equally stunned, have echoed the sentiment that Darius was not someone who would walk away from his life or his job. His sudden absence feels like a betrayal of the trust he placed in his routine, his workplace, and the systems meant to protect workers.
The community response has been swift and heartfelt. Flyers bearing Darius’s image and details of his disappearance are circulating in New Orleans, and social media campaigns using hashtags like #FindDariusClem and #BringHimHome are amplifying the call for answers. Local residents, moved by the family’s plea, have rallied to spread the word, sharing posts and urging anyone with information to come forward. The pain of his absence is compounded by the silence surrounding the case, leaving many to wonder why more isn’t being done to uncover the truth.
Darius’s family is pleading for anyone who might have seen or heard something that night to speak up. They are asking for tips from coworkers, port workers, or anyone in the vicinity of the Westbank facility on April 22. His sister, Annqueania, along with aunts Janet Marie Stewart and Dorothy S. Johnson, are ready to receive any information, no matter how small. For those who prefer anonymity, they urge contacting local law enforcement or CrimeStoppers New Orleans, which offers rewards for tips leading to answers in felony cases. “This is our family. He is our blood,” one of his aunts said, her voice resolute. “We are not going to stop until we find him. But we can’t do it alone.”
The broader New Orleans community is no stranger to loss, but Darius’s case has struck a chord for its unsettling ambiguity. A man who lived a life of purpose and connection, who showed up every day for those who depended on him, deserves more than to fade into the shadows. His family is calling on the public to keep his name alive, to demand accountability from those responsible for the port’s operations, and to help bring clarity to a case that has left them in limbo. As the days stretch on, the hope of finding Darius remains a flickering light, sustained by the love of a family that refuses to give up and a community determined to see him brought home.