122 Missing FL Children Rescued In 2-Week Operation, State Officials Say

Through the U.S. Marshals Service-led initiative Operation Home for the Holidays, 122 missing Florida children have been rescued, state Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office announced Monday.

It is one of the largest child-recovery operations in U.S. history, his office said in a news release.

Over two weeks, a multi-disciplinary task force recently rescued 57 children in the Tampa Bay area, 14 in Orlando, 22 in Jacksonville and 29 in Fort Myers. The operation also included recoveries in nine other states.

The children rescued ranged from 23 months to 17 years old, “and many had experienced various levels of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or exposure to other criminal activity,” the attorney general’s office said.

“Many of these kids have been victimized in unspeakable ways. We will prosecute their abusers to the fullest extent of the law,” Uthmeier said.

Six felony arrests were made during the initiative with additional charges expected as the investigations continue. Crimes ranged from sexual battery on a child to custodial interference.

“By gathering critical intelligence, pursuing every lead, and working together with our federal, state, and local partners, we achieved a unified mission and delivered meaningful results—122 children and youth are now safe, and that is a victory for our entire state,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement deputy commissioner Vaden Pollard said.

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