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FLORIDA - A joint task force of local, state, and federal agencies located and recovered 122 missing and endangered children in central Florida during a two-week operation called Home for the Holidays, the U.S. Marshals Service announced Monday.
The children, ranging in age from 23 months to 17 years, were found in the Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Fort Myers areas, with 57 recoveries in Tampa Bay, 29 in Fort Myers, 22 in Jacksonville, and 14 in Orlando.
Some children were located outside Florida in nine other states.Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier described the rescued children as victims of severe abuse, trafficking, and exploitation.
The operation involved the FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and eleven sheriff offices.
U.S. Marshal Bill Berger for the Middle District of Florida emphasized post-recovery support, noting coordination with child welfare organizations to address medical, mental health, and placement needs.
Recovered children received immediate medical care and counseling, with many transferred to the Children’s Home Network for ongoing services.
Specific cases included a pregnant teenager receiving prenatal care for the first time, two brothers entering substance dependency treatment, a toddler found in Mexico with cross-border care coordination, and other youths placed in secure environments or connected to abuse-related services.
Information provided by the children led to six felony arrests on charges including child neglect, custodial interference, narcotics possession, sexual assault, terroristic threats, and child endangerment.
The operation built on a previous summer effort that recovered more than 60 children in the Tampa Bay region alone.