In a powerful, multi-agency effort spanning several Southern states, 43 missing and endangered children — including infants and toddlers — were safely recovered during a two-week mission known as Operation Northern Lights, officials confirmed Thursday.
The operation, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, targeted critical child recovery cases across North Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It ran from December 1 to December 12 and involved more than 80 personnel from 25 agencies, including federal, state, and local law enforcement, child protective services, medical teams, and advocacy organizations.
“This was the most successful missing child operation ever conducted in Northern Florida,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal. “Forty-three children who were in dangerous or uncertain situations are now safe and receiving care.”
The children ranged in age from just over one year old to 17, and officials say the mission focused on locating minors considered critically missing or at high risk of exploitation, trafficking, abuse, or neglect.
Among the most notable recoveries:
– A 1-year-old missing from Leon County, Florida, was located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after being missing since September.
– A 13-year-old who had been missing for eight months from Suwannee County was found in Jacksonville.
– A 17-year-old and an infant from Okaloosa County were recovered near Jackson, Mississippi, leading to an arrest on custodial interference charges.
– In Ocala, a 15-year-old abducted by a non-custodial adult was safely located and the adult taken into custody.
In total, nine arrests were made during the operation. Investigators have also opened two potential human trafficking cases, with additional charges and follow-up investigations still ongoing.
Florida officials involved in the effort called the operation a major win in the fight against child exploitation. “We are committed to bringing the strongest charges available against those who endanger children,” said James Uthmeier, Chief of Staff for the Florida Governor’s Office. “The goal is to rescue and protect — and that mission continues.”
All children rescued during Operation Northern Lights received immediate medical attention, food, shelter, and trauma-informed care. Child advocacy professionals worked closely with law enforcement to ensure each child was placed in a safe environment.
Derrick Driscoll, representing the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, emphasized the importance of the operation’s impact: “Every child recovered represents a life removed from harm’s way and a family given hope.”
The mission was conducted under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which authorizes the U.S. Marshals to assist with child recovery cases regardless of whether a known fugitive is involved. Since gaining that authority in 2015, the Marshals have recovered nearly 4,000 missing children nationwide, with about two-thirds of those cases resolved successfully — often within the first week of an investigation.
Officials say Operation Northern Lights may lead to further arrests in the coming weeks as digital evidence is processed and leads are pursued. Updates will be provided as new developments are confirmed.
Discover more from Red News Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
More information, please. How many of the missing children were part of a custody dispute and the person who took them was a parent of theirs. That makes the headline look much less traumatic. We do a lousy job of managing custody battles in the USA, having been through one myself. My ex and I had agreed on child support terms. Because we did not go through the local legal system, I sent my support directly to her, I was listed as a delinquent dad. The support system was mostly upset because they would have taken a percent of the support to run their office, so my ex would have gotten much less. Instead, I sent the money directly to my ex. About double what the system wanted me to send so she and the kids could stay in the house they had grown up in. That support ended when they had graduated from high school and I took over all of their college and post high school expenses. Hence, I did not pay as long as the court said I should. She was a working adult and didn\’t need my support. My ex could support herself on her income, so we saw no need for her to get money from me. The child custody people treat all spouses (men mostly) as assumed delinquent criminals. She would send me newspaper clippings listing me as a delinquent father. Why does the system feel that all fathers, in most cases, will not support their children? Presumed guilty, as I see it. The system needs to be revised so that the supportive parent must be shown to be unsupportive before the legal system kicks in. Anybody else go through a similar experience? I still have the newspaper clippings my ex sent me listing me as a deadbeat father. Something we both laughed at. Larry Schlatter Lks11645@aol.com