Federal marshals working with Arizona state and local authorities located 31 missing children during a three-week sweep across the Phoenix area, authorities reported on May 5.
The U.S. Marshals Service ran what they called Operation Desert Dawn from April 13 to May 1, targeting areas with reports of high concentrations of critically missing children, the agency said.
The operation safely secured 20 of the children, which included some endangered runaways, and confirmed the location of 11 others with the help of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Marshals Service reported.
“This operation was about protecting children who were in a vulnerable and dangerous situation,” 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.”…