PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Several children who were reported missing in Arizona were located in recent weeks during a federal operation.
The U.S. Marshals Service carried out Operation Desert Dawn from April 13 to May 1, focusing on areas in the Valley with high concentrations of missing children and endangered runaways.
Thirty-one missing children were located during the three-week operation, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Twenty of the children were safely found, and the locations were confirmed for the 11 others.
“This operation was about protecting children who were in vulnerable and dangerous situations,” said Van Bayless, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona. “Each child we located represents a young life removed from the risk of exploitation, abuse, or worse. Through the dedication of our partners, these children now have the opportunity to return to safety and begin moving forward.”
The following children are some of the ones who 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
This operation was supported by the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. The Marshals Service said the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, local agencies and community partners helped to safely find the kids.
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