Southwest Florida included in statewide effort that recovered more than 120 missing children

Nearly 30 missing children, from ages 23 months to 17 years old, were located in Southwest Florida during a statewide recovery effort that found more than 120 children across multiple regions and states over a two-week span.According to the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the initiative, called Operation Home for the Holidays, resulted in 122 children being located and six felony arrests. More charges are expected as investigations continue.Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said the operation surpassed the size and scope of a similar effort earlier this year and marked one of the largest child-recovery missions in U.S. history.Many of the children had experienced abuse, exploitation or neglect, he said, adding, “The operation highlights the strength and diligence of Florida’s law enforcement.” Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Matthew J. Walsh said the agency assisted with connecting recovered youth to essential support programs as part of the state’s broader effort to strengthen community safety.The task force found 29 children in Southwest Florida, as well as 57 recoveries in the Tampa Bay area, 14 in Orlando and 22 in Jacksonville. Recoveries also took place in nine other states. The children ranged from 23 months to 17 years old.Officials said investigators relied on real-time intelligence and coordinated field operations, with child welfare specialists embedded to provide immediate help.Some of the children brought to Golisano Children’s Hospital received medical evaluations, emotional help, and a sense of safety.Lisa Dorsey from Golisano Children’s Hospital said, “They, you know, they chose to come in and get the care. And then we really tried to provide an opportunity for them to have a lot of choice, you know, pick their toiletries out and go get a shower. We created a little store where they were able to go and have choice about what clothes they wanted to wear and then have that. So I think that gave them a lot of autonomy where they felt that, you know, they were in a safe place.” Dyane Rodriguez from Fort Myers credited the small but dedicated team of nurses who worked tirelessly for two weeks alongside community partners. “They really worked very well together and with our community partners, for two full weeks, we are just appreciative of the other people that surrounded us, the other departments, the senior leaders, and everybody at Lee Health that just said, yes, do what you need to do, take care of these kids that need to be taken care of,” Rodriguez said.Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier emphasized the importance of protecting children, stating, “Here in Florida, everybody now knows protecting our kids, keeping them safe, preventing them from being extorted and endangered. That’s what it’s all about.”Golisano Children’s Hospital learned of the mission about two months ago. Rodriguez said, “Just kind of asking if we would be willing to play a bigger role without knowing very much information. We kind of had to take a leap of faith, knowing that we would be helping, you know, some of the more vulnerable kids in our area.”Some of the children may have been sexually abused or trafficked.Pediatric nurse Lisa Dorsey expressed the significance of providing a safe interaction with healthcare for the children. “For me, it was really important to allow these kids to have an opportunity for an interaction with health care. That was just that for me to be a nurse, you’re supposed to just be trusted. It comes with part of being our profession. So for them to have that safe interaction where we could provide that for them, it just meant a lot to me,” Dorsey said.Golisano Children’s Hospital created special rooms for the children, ensuring they had regular beds, hot showers, and could order whatever they wanted to eat. Rodriguez added, “Give them everything that they could need to feel comfortable and feel like a kid that day. And then we sent them to a safe place. It was different for each child. It just really depended on their situation.”The Department of Children and Families will determine the future placement of these children.The attorney general said so far, six people are charged in this operation.The Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is handling several felony cases stemming from the operation, including investigations involving sexual battery on a child and custodial interference.This is a developing story.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Nearly 30 missing children, from ages 23 months to 17 years old, were located in Southwest Florida during a statewide recovery effort that found more than 120 children across multiple regions and states over a two-week span.

According to the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the initiative, called Operation Home for the Holidays, resulted in 122 children being located and six felony arrests. More charges are expected as investigations continue.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said the operation surpassed the size and scope of a similar effort earlier this year and marked one of the largest child-recovery missions in U.S. history.

Many of the children had experienced abuse, exploitation or neglect, he said, adding, “The operation highlights the strength and diligence of Florida’s law enforcement.”

Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Matthew J. Walsh said the agency assisted with connecting recovered youth to essential support programs as part of the state’s broader effort to strengthen community safety.

The task force found 29 children in Southwest Florida, as well as 57 recoveries in the Tampa Bay area, 14 in Orlando and 22 in Jacksonville. Recoveries also took place in nine other states. The children ranged from 23 months to 17 years old.

Officials said investigators relied on real-time intelligence and coordinated field operations, with child welfare specialists embedded to provide immediate help.

Some of the children brought to Golisano Children’s Hospital received medical evaluations, emotional help, and a sense of safety.

Lisa Dorsey from Golisano Children’s Hospital said, “They, you know, they chose to come in and get the care. And then we really tried to provide an opportunity for them to have a lot of choice, you know, pick their toiletries out and go get a shower. We created a little store where they were able to go and have choice about what clothes they wanted to wear and then have that. So I think that gave them a lot of autonomy where they felt that, you know, they were in a safe place.”

Dyane Rodriguez from Fort Myers credited the small but dedicated team of nurses who worked tirelessly for two weeks alongside community partners.

“They really worked very well together and with our community partners, for two full weeks, we are just appreciative of the other people that surrounded us, the other departments, the senior leaders, and everybody at Lee Health that just said, yes, do what you need to do, take care of these kids that need to be taken care of,” Rodriguez said.

Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier emphasized the importance of protecting children, stating, “Here in Florida, everybody now knows protecting our kids, keeping them safe, preventing them from being extorted and endangered. That’s what it’s all about.”

Golisano Children’s Hospital learned of the mission about two months ago. Rodriguez said, “Just kind of asking if we would be willing to play a bigger role without knowing very much information. We kind of had to take a leap of faith, knowing that we would be helping, you know, some of the more vulnerable kids in our area.”

Some of the children may have been sexually abused or trafficked.

Pediatric nurse Lisa Dorsey expressed the significance of providing a safe interaction with healthcare for the children.

“For me, it was really important to allow these kids to have an opportunity for an interaction with health care. That was just that for me to be a nurse, you’re supposed to just be trusted. It comes with part of being our profession. So for them to have that safe interaction where we could provide that for them, it just meant a lot to me,” Dorsey said.

Golisano Children’s Hospital created special rooms for the children, ensuring they had regular beds, hot showers, and could order whatever they wanted to eat. Rodriguez added, “Give them everything that they could need to feel comfortable and feel like a kid that day. And then we sent them to a safe place. It was different for each child. It just really depended on their situation.”

The Department of Children and Families will determine the future placement of these children.

The attorney general said so far, six people are charged in this operation.

The Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is handling several felony cases stemming from the operation, including investigations involving sexual battery on a child and custodial interference.

This is a developing story.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.