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Florida Rescues 122 Missing Children in Historic Operation
Operation Home for the Holidays recovered 122 children aged 23 months to 17 years, leading to multiple felony arrests and connecting victims to critical support services.
On Monday, Attorney General James Uthmeier announced in Tampa that 122 children were located during 'Operation Home for the Holidays', led by the U.S. Marshals Service.
A two-week task force led by the U.S. Marshals Service targeted vulnerable youth in Central Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville and Fort Myers foster system cases.
By the numbers, Marshals recovered 57 children in Tampa Bay, 14 in Orlando, 22 in Jacksonville, and 29 in Fort Myers, with victim advocates providing rapid access to services for children aged 23 months to 17 years.
So far, six felony arrests have been made, with the Office of Statewide Prosecution pursuing multiple felony cases as Attorney General James Uthmeier vowed, 'If you want to prey upon them... we’re gonna lock you up for as long as possible.'
Recoveries also occurred in nine other states and included a toddler located in Mexico, surpassing Operation Dragon Eye earlier this year, with several related investigations pending, officials said.
The “Home for the Parties” operation lasted two weeks and allowed minors between 23 months and 17 years of age to be located who were missing or in danger.