U.S. Marshals recover 43 missing children in Florida operation, including 1-year-old found in Baton Rouge Operation Northern Lights spans 14 counties across North Florida

 Operation Northern Lights spans 14 counties across North Florida

By Deon Guillory

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WAFB) - The U.S. Marshals Service led a missing child operation in December that resulted in the recovery and location of 43 critically missing children from 14 counties across North Florida, including a 1-year-old from Leon County who was recovered by U.S. Marshals personnel in Baton Rouge.

The little girl was in the custody of Florida’s Department of Children and Family Services, listed as missing and in danger after being reported missing in September. Her mother had gone on the run with the child. The girl was found on December 2 at a home in Baton Rouge through the joint efforts of Baton Rouge U.S. Marshals and New Orleans U.S. Marshals working together. The child is now in the custody of DCFS  

Operation Northern Lights included a comprehensive, multidisciplinary task force of federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as social services, the medical community, and non-governmental organizations.

Operational planning and coordination led to the execution of a two-week initiative geared to recover or safely locate the most critically missing youth. The U.S. Marshals Service defines “critically missing” children as those at risk of crimes of violence or those with other elevated risk factors such as substance abuse, sexual exploitation, crime exposure, or domestic violence.

Unprecedented operation in Northern Florida

An initiative of this magnitude has not been previously undertaken in Northern Florida until this month. Over 80 personnel from 25 different agencies, including law enforcement, social services, federal and state attorneys’ offices, and non-profits, worked together to bring these children home.

This operation had three primary objectives: recover critically missing youth, provide them with essential services, including appropriate placement, and deter criminal activity related to exploiting the vulnerabilities of missing children.

Northern Lights resulted in 9 arrests and included recoveries potentially leading to additional future charges of human trafficking, child endangerment, and custodial interference. During this operation, endangered children missing from North Florida were recovered not only locally but also in other states, including Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Children recovered across multiple states

“This was the most successful missing child operation ever conducted in Northern Florida. Because of the tireless dedication of the U.S. Marshals and our law enforcement partners, 43 endangered children will now be home safe for the holidays,” said Greg Leljedal, Acting U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Florida.

“The recovered children ranged in age from 1 ½ to 17-years-old. This operation was not only about finding the missing children, but also providing immediate physical and psychological care to help them begin the path to healing,” Leljedal said.

“The recovery of over forty missing children reflects the unwavering commitment and teamwork from law enforcement,” said Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno. “Every child deserves to be safe, and we will continue to use every resource at our disposal to bring missing children home and support their families.”

Significant recoveries include Louisiana cases

Among the significant recoveries were a 17-year-old and a 1-year-old missing out of Okaloosa County recovered by U.S. Marshals personnel outside Jackson, Mississippi, with an arrest made on a non-custodial adult for interference with child custody.

A 17-year-old missing out of Suwannee County was recovered by U.S. Marshals personnel in Meadville, Mississippi. U.S. Marshals arrested an adult for interference with child custody.

A 13-year-old missing out of Suwannee County was recovered by U.S. Marshals personnel in Jacksonville after having been missing for 8 months.

A 15-year-old out of Okaloosa County was a victim of a non-custodial abduction. The child and abductor were located in Ocala, Florida, and the adult was arrested for interference with child custody.

Enhanced authority aids recovery efforts

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 enhanced the U.S. Marshals Service’s discretionary authority to assist other law enforcement agencies with the recovery of missing, endangered, or abducted children, regardless of whether a fugitive or sex offender was involved.

Since 2015, when the Marshals received enhanced authority under the act, the agency has located or recovered more than 3,967 missing children. The U.S. Marshals have located or recovered missing children in 66 percent of cases received. Of those recovered, 61 percent were found within seven days.