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A remarkable recovery effort has led to the safe return of 122 missing or endangered children, with 57 of those rescues occurring in the Tampa Bay area, as confirmed by officials.
In what is being hailed as one of the most expansive and successful child-recovery initiatives in Florida’s history, law enforcement agencies have reunited these children with safety. Dubbed “Operation Home for the Holidays,” this initiative involved a collaboration of more than 200 agencies and partners spanning Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, and adjacent counties.
The coalition was unprecedented, bringing together the FBI, 11 sheriff’s offices, four police departments, four state agencies, and 25 nonprofit organizations to tackle the issue. Their collective efforts were not limited to Florida, as children were also recovered from nine other states, with ages ranging from a mere 23 months to 17 years.
The operation revealed troubling accounts from some children who reported having suffered abuse or being in proximity to criminal activities. These revelations resulted in six felony arrests. The charges include child neglect, custodial interference, narcotics possession, sexual assault, making terroristic threats, and endangerment, according to the release.
These allegations led to six felony arrests under charges such as child neglect, custodial interference, narcotics possession, sexual assault, terroristic threats, and endangerment, according to a news release.
U.S. Marshal Bill Berger said the effort expanded across Central and North Florida, aiming to surpass the 60 recoveries made during “Operation Dragon Eye” earlier this year.
“This was the largest combination of sworn and non-sworn organizations in the history of child-recovery operations,” Berger said. “As a result… 122 kids, ages 2 to 17, were located and recovered.”
“Thanks to one of the single largest child-rescue operations in U.S. history, 122 missing children are safe,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier in a statement.
“This operation highlights the strength and diligence of Florida’s Law Enforcement. I am deeply grateful for everyone that made Operation Home for the Holidays a massive success. Many of these kids have been victimized in unspeakable ways. We will prosecute their abusers to the fullest extent of the law,” Uthmeier added.
The new operation surpassed the scale and success of Dragon Eye and expanded across more Florida communities, according to a release.
Officials expect there will be additional felony arrests.
The goal of the operation was to connect the children with services, including medical care, youth advocacy and foster care, once rescued.
Some people who were able to get care included:
- A young pregnant female who received prenatal care for the first time
- Two brothers were provided initial care for substance dependency and are being evaluated for treatment options
- A toddler was safely located in Mexico
- A young woman who identified safety concerns to child welfare officers was voluntarily relocated and placed in a secure home
- A young man with a significant juvenile justice history was provided with services pertaining to his alleged abuse
The investigation
Officials say analysts spent months preparing, reviewing case packets, digging through social media and identifying children at risk working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children FDLE’s Vaden Pollard said. “We do a detailed analysis, dive into social media… everything we can to find them. And in this case, you see the results — 122 kids.”
The children came from a wide range of traumatic situations — human trafficking, exploitation, abuse, or neglect. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said too many had survived “the unthinkable.”
“They’ve been trafficked. They’ve been exploited. They’ve been abused,” Uthmeier said. “Protecting our kids… there is no greater calling.”
Some cases were especially emotional.
Berger described a brother and sister missing separately for two years, reunited in Fort Myers.
In Jacksonville, two teenage brothers were found malnourished and exposed to methamphetamine in a trailer park.
“They told members of the recovery force, ‘Thank you for saving our lives,’” Berger said. The boys were later reunited with their mother.
Tampa Bay saw the highest number of recoveries, with 57 children located, followed by 29 in Fort Myers, 22 in Jacksonville and 14 in Orlando.
Recovery is the first step
Officials emphasized that finding the children was only the first step. Teams of counselors, medical specialists and child-advocacy groups stood by to assist each child immediately after recovery.
DCF Secretary Taylor Hatch said, “Recovery is only the beginning. Helping a child heal is the work that follows.”
Tracey Kaley of BayCare said children were welcomed into a setting “safe, comforting, and most importantly, consenting.”
Kimberly Clarke, with More to Life, added, “When we work together, children can be found — and hope can be restored.”
Uthmeier issued a warning to offenders: “If you want to prey upon our kids… everybody up here is coming for you. We are going to lock you up as long as possible.”
Officials say the success of the operation could serve as a model for similar efforts statewide and nationally. Prosecutor Rhea Peters summed up the mission simply: “Every child recovered… now has a chance to be safe, supported and seen.”
More arrests are expected. So far, six adults face charges ranging from sexual battery to lewd and lascivious behavior.
