A two-week operation involving local, state, and federal law enforcement recovered 122 missing and endangered children across central Florida, the U.S. Marshals Service announced Monday.
The effort, called Home for the Holidays, focused on four metro areas: Tampa Bay (57 children), Orlando (14), Jacksonville (22), and Fort Myers (29). Children found during the operation received services such as 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.
Cases highlighted in the release included a pregnant teenager receiving prenatal care for the first time, two brothers getting 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 found across Florida and nine other states, ranging from 23 months to 17 years old. Information gathered from the recovered children led to six felony arrests on charges including child neglect, custodial interference, narcotics possession, sexual assault, terroristic threats, and endangerment.
The investigation is still ongoing.
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