FLORIDA — A two-week effort involving local, state, and federal law enforcement recovered 122 missing and endangered children across central Florida, the U.S. Marshals Service announced Monday.
The operation, titled Home for the Holidays, focused on four major metro areas: Tampa Bay (57 children), Orlando (14), Jacksonville (22), and Fort Myers (29). Children recovered in the operation received services including medical care, youth advocacy, juvenile justice coordination, foster care, and child placement.
Bill Berger, U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Florida, said the initiative emphasizes long-term support. “We know these children will have needs once we find them. It only makes sense to build these operations alongside like-minded partners from across the child welfare space,” he said.
Several cases highlighted in the news release included a pregnant teenager receiving prenatal care for the first time, two brothers receiving treatment for substance dependency, a toddler safely located in Mexico, a young woman relocated for her safety, and a young man receiving services related to alleged abuse.
Children were located across Florida and nine additional states, ranging in age from 23 months to 17 years. Information provided by the recovered children led to six felony arrests on charges such as child neglect, custodial interference, narcotics possession, sexual assault, terroristic threats, and endangerment.
The investigation remains ongoing.
