Son of Dr. J is missing

Cory Erving has a history of drug use. A reward is being offered.

By Times wire services

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 14, 2000

SANFORD -- Julius Erving on Tuesday pleaded for help in finding his 19-year-old son, who has a history of drug problems and has been missing since May 28.

"This bad dream has gone on for 16 days now ... 16 bad days," the basketball great said. "We are in dire need of help."

A $25,000 reward was offered for the safe return of Cory Marvin Erving, last seen by his family when he went to a Lake Mary shopping mall about 20 miles from Orlando.

Erving, executive vice president of the Orlando Magic, spoke at a nationally televised news conference with his wife and their three other adult children.

"I'm begging, wishing, hoping, and I'm praying," he said.

Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger said Cory might have had a confrontation with someone before he disappeared, but he did not elaborate.

"We've had no critical witnesses whom we have gleaned information about his whereabouts," Eslinger said. "We've exhausted many leads."

The sheriff's department said the search has expanded and information on Cory has been passed on to law enforcement across the nation.

Cory Erving is considered "endangered" because his whereabouts are unknown, the sheriff's department said. That description does not imply physical or mental impairment. But Julius Erving said his son has a learning disability and has had drug problems since he was 14.

"Since eighth grade he has been in special classes to deal with the disability. ... It's a mild form of dyslexia," Erving said.

Erving described his family as close.

"There has never been one time when there has ever been a lack of communication in our family. ... For Cory to be out of the circle brings about great concern," he said.

The family described Cory as fun-loving and a prankster.

"Sometimes, just in support of him, we would tease him about all the diplomas he's garnered from drug rehab centers. ... He has about five or six of them," the father said in a subdued tone.

Cory had plans to go to a Memorial Day weekend cookout with his family and was running an errand to pick up bread when he last spoke to his father.

"He called me and said he would be home in 20 minutes," Erving said. "That was the last time I talked to him."

Cory was working at an upscale sandwich shop and taking courses aimed at a high school equivalency diploma. Despite his trouble with drugs and alcohol, the family believed he had turned his life around.

"We felt he was on course to have some success in a life that has been very trying, living in the shadow of a public figure like myself and a high-profile family," Erving said.

Last year, Erving, a Hall of Famer and former league MVP, acknowledged he is the father of tennis player Alexandra Stevenson. Her mother is sportswriter Samantha Stevenson.

Anyone with information regarding Cory Erving's whereabouts is asked to call the Seminole County Sheriff's Department at (888) 609-2529.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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