The U.S. Marshals Service found 200 missing children, considered some of the most challenging recovery cases, during the course of a six-week national sting that ended last week.
Operation We Will Find You 2 was conducted from May 20 to June 24 and focused on geographical areas with high clusters of critically missing children, including Phoenix and Miami. Authorities say children who go missing may be in serious danger and can be vulnerable to child sex trafficking, abuse, exploitation and other crimes against children.
"One of the most sacred missions of U.S. Marshals Service is locating and recovering our nation’s critically missing children," USMS Director Ronald Davis said in a statement . "This is one of our top priorities as there remain thousands of children still missing and at risk."
With technical assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the operation resulted in the recovery and removal of 123 children from dangerous situations. An additional 77 missing children were located and found to be in safe locations, according to law enforcement or child welfare agencies.
Of the 200 children found, 173 were endangered runaways, 25 were considered otherwise missing, one was a family abduction and one was a non-family abduction, the agency said. The youngest child recovered was five-months-old. Fourteen of the children were found outside the city where they went missing. Additionally, of the missing children recovered, 57% were recovered within seven days of the Marshals assisting with the case.
Authorities said these missing children were considered some of the most challenging recovery cases based on indications of high-risk factors such as victimization of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse and mental health conditions. In addition, other children who had been reported missing were located at the request of law enforcement to ensure they were safe and to confirm the child's location.
"There are no words to describe the terror felt by missing children, their families, and their communities," said Attorney General Merrick Garland. "I am grateful to the dedicated professionals of the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who worked to find 200 critically missing children during this six-week operation, and who work every day to keep children safe."
The operation was conducted from the following locations:
• District of Arizona (Phoenix, Glendale, Goodyear, Tucson, South Tucson and Pima counties)
• Eastern District of California (San Joaquin County, Stockton and Sacramento County)
• Southern District of Florida (Broward, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties)
• Western District of Michigan (Kent, Lake, Ingham and Ottawa counties)
• Eastern District of North Carolina (New Hanover, Brunswick, Harnett, Onslow, Pitt, Wake, Johnston, Robeson, Cumberland, Sampson, Nash and Pender counties)
• Southern and Eastern Districts of New York (New York City)
• District of Oregon (Multnomah, Washington and Deschutes counties, as well as Portland and Eugene, and the Warm Springs Reservation)
In one "significant recovery" from June, officials tracked a 16-year-old Michigan girl, who was reported missing in January, to an apartment in Indiana where she was "likely being controlled and abused" by a 30-year-old man. The girl had reportedly tried to get away from the man multiple times but was unable to. Investigators found photos of cash and guns the man's social media profile, including one image where he's pointing a gun with an extended magazine at the missing child. Marshals located the child safely inside the apartment and arrested the man after he jumped from a window and attempted to flee.
In another case out of Arizona, a 15-year-old girl was reported missing in April after she ran away from a group home in Phoenix. The investigation revealed the child was in Los Angeles, possibly being sex trafficked until the suspected trafficker was murdered. The child told a family member she was going on vacation to Miami but when she got there her new "trafficker" dropped her off at the beach and told her to make money. In June, the child was located at a hotel in Flint, Michigan and her "male associate" was arrested.
Another significant recovery happened in North Carolina, where a 1-year-old was reported missing in late April after her mother neglected to surrender her to the Department of Social Services. Authorities were especially concerned because the mother was previously convicted for her actions in the strangulation, assault and death of one of her children, a 4-year-old boy. In mid-May, Marshals arrested the mother without incident in Raleigh and the baby was safely recovered.
"We are grateful that vulnerable children have been recovered as part of this operation, and we commend the U.S. Marshals Service and all the agencies involved for their commitment to protect youth and ensure these children are not forgotten," said Michelle DeLaune, President and CEO of NCMEC. "Behind every statistic, there is a child who deserves to grow up safe from harm."
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