Several children who had been reported missing in Arizona were found in recent weeks amid a federal investigation.
From April 13 to May 1, the US Marshals Service conducted Operation Desert Dawn, focusing on areas of the Valley with a high proportion of missing children and endangered runaways.
According to the United States Marshals Service, 31 missing children were located during the three-week effort. Twenty of the children were discovered safely, and the locations of the remaining 11 were confirmed.
“This operation was about protecting children who were in vulnerable and dangerous situations,” stated Van Bayless, the United States Marshal for the District of Arizona. “Every child we found symbolizes a young life saved from exploitation, abuse, or worse. These youngsters now have the opportunity to return to safety and begin their lives again thanks to the efforts of our partners.”
The following children were safely found during Operation Desert Dawn:
- 16-year-old female suspected to be a victim of sex trafficking in Glendale
- 11-year-old female with mental health concerns
- 16-year-old experiencing homelessness and substance use challenges
- 17-year-old who had been missing from Phoenix for 18 months
- 14-year-old missing from Phoenix, located in Tucson
- 17-year-old female suspected to be a victim of sex trafficking in Phoenix
“We continue kind of using all the techniques and protocols and practices that we’ve learned over the years on how to talk to people, how to listen to information, how to go and hunt for these people,” Bayless stated. “And in this case, a lot of them are children that we’re trying to remove from a dangerous environment or a bad environment or get them the care and the help that they need.”
U.S. Marshals utilized the same procedures they use to apprehend dangerous fugitives, but this time the goal was to return children home.
While the program was aimed at discovering children, investigators believe it led them to prospective predators. Cases are still being investigated, and additional arrests may occur.
Bayless stated that some of the children have already been reunited with their family, while others are receiving care from crisis centers and support agencies.
According to John Meza of the Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network, locating these kids is merely the first step.
“Recovery is just the beginning. “It will take a long time to help them truly heal,” Meza added. “The inquiry reveals that these are children from our community. They are not kids from border towns or anything like that. “They are right here.”
This operation was made possible under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. According to the Marshals Service, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, local authorities, and community partners all contributed to the children’s safe recovery.
Leave a Reply