Video above: Body of missing Port St. Lucie child recovered in neighborhood lakeFlorida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday that a statewide rescue operation led to the recovery of 122 missing children.The state partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service. The recovery named “Operation Home for the Holidays” resulted in six arrests with additional charges expected as the investigations continue.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News“Thanks to one of the single largest child-rescue operations in U.S. history, 122 missing children are safe,” Uthmeier said 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.”According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, over a two-week span, the multi-disciplinary task force proactively located vulnerable youth throughout Central Florida, including 57 children in the Tampa Bay region, 14 in Orlando, 22 in Jacksonville, and 29 in Fort Myers. The operation also resulted in recoveries in nine other states. The children ranged in age from 23 months to 17 years old, and many had experienced various levels of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or exposure to other criminal activity.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
TAMPA, Fla. —
Video above: Body of missing Port St. Lucie child recovered in neighborhood lake
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday that a statewide rescue operation led to the recovery of 122 missing children.
The state partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service. The recovery named “Operation Home for the Holidays” resulted in six arrests with additional charges expected as the investigations continue.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
“Thanks to one of the single largest child-rescue operations in U.S. history, 122 missing children are safe,” Uthmeier said 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.”
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, over a two-week span, the multi-disciplinary task force proactively located vulnerable youth throughout Central Florida, including 57 children in the Tampa Bay region, 14 in Orlando, 22 in Jacksonville, and 29 in Fort Myers.
The operation also resulted in recoveries in nine other states. The children ranged in age from 23 months to 17 years old, and many had experienced various levels of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or exposure to other criminal activity.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.