25 Missing Children Found in Florida amid 3-Day Operation

More than two dozen missing children were located in Florida during a massive, multi-agency effort that lasted three days.

As of June 18, a total of 25 kids were found across six Florida counties through the initiative, which also led to new investigative leads in several missing children cases, according to a press release from the National Child Protection Task Force (NCPTF).

The NCPTF headed the effort, which was held at the Jacksonville office of Operation Light Shine, a nonprofit “dedicated to equipping law enforcement and frontline responders with the resources, intelligence, and technology needed to combat human trafficking and child exploitation.”

Photos taken throughout the operation show individuals across organizations huddled over computers and a massive screen with a counter indicating the number of “missing children located.” 

Before the total count rose to 25, Kevin Branzetti, the CEO of NCPTF, reported that the first 21 kids located through the operation ranged in age from 7 to 17 years old, according to local CBS affiliate WJAX. Branzetti said that some of the kids had been missing for just over a week, while others disappeared more than 400 days before they were found, the Jacksonville outlet reported.

“The multi-agency operation involved intensive case review, investigative follow-up, and the application of advanced technology to rapidly locate children reported missing across Clay, Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Putnam, and Flagler Counties,” the NCPTF press release read. “Throughout the three-day effort, law enforcement, child protection professionals, prosecutors, social service providers, NGOs, and private partners collaborated to review cases, uncover leads, and develop trauma-informed strategies to help each child gain long-term safety and stability once recovered.”

Operation Light Shine shared some of the specific cases that occurred thanks to the effort in an Instagram post, writing that “countless lives forever changed” and that “what we witnessed this week was extraordinary.”

Among the missing kids, the nonprofit wrote, were a “girl who had nothing, offering her only meal to the advocate who helped her,” and “teens reimagining their future — asking about GEDs, stable housing, and careers.”

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The Tim Tebow Foundation also aided in the effort, along with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. More than 70 people were involved, according to a group photo shared by several of the organizations and agencies involved.

“There’s no greater responsibility than protecting our most vulnerable – our youth – and keeping our community safe. Operations like this demonstrate the powers of working in unified action, when we all come together for a shared purpose,” said a spokesperson for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

Tim Tebow echoed this in an official statement: “One of our non-negotiables at the Tim Tebow Foundation is that there is power when we come together. We’re humbled to come alongside this incredible team of law enforcement, child protection agencies, experts, and partners to stand in the gap for these missing and vulnerable children.”

“Our heart is to fight for the world’s Most Vulnerable People – the real MVPs – and we’re so encouraged that we were able to be a part of impacting these lives this week,” the Tim Tebow Foundation founder finished.

Each of the 25 children located through the Florida operation, the NCPTF said, will hopefully lead to the recovery of even more missing kids throughout the state.

“Detailed results and further information on individual cases will be managed confidentially by respective law enforcement agencies to protect the privacy of the involved minors,” the press release read. “As case work continues, additional rescues are expected throughout the region.”