COLUMBUS – A total of 79 reported missing children have been found in Ohio during Operation Meridian, according to the United States Marshals Pete Elliott, of Northern Ohio and, Michael Black of Southern Ohio.
The U.S. Marshals Service, in coordination with its federal, state, and local partners announced Monday morning the successful conclusion of an operation that located missing and endangered children cases between the ages of 6 and 17 across the state.
“The United States Marshals Service, through its fugitive task forces, locates and arrests the most violent fugitives in our communities,” Black stated. “Using the same resources and methods we have the ability to seek and recover missing and endangered children.
“We are proud to be able to assist our law enforcement partners in locating and reuniting missing children with their families.”
The operation, conducted throughout the month of August, focused on children reported missing due to a range of circumstances including suspected sex trafficking, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, run away children, and other forms of endangerment.
Investigators worked across jurisdictional lines, coordinating with local police agencies, state agencies, and federal partners to locate children as far away as Georgia.
During the operation, U.S. Marshals in Southern Ohio worked closely with Columbus Police Department on a long-term missing child case involving two sisters, ages 13 and 16. The children were reported missing in July 2024 through April 2026.
Law enforcement followed up on leads in the area and located the 13-year-old girl concealed in a basement crawlspace hidden in the floor of a bedroom closet at a home in the 900 block of Hibbs Road in Lockbourne.
The mother of the girls was arrested for an outstanding warrant through Franklin County for probation violation. During the recovery and arrest, officers were able to gain more information about the second missing girl who was recovered later in the day at a restaurant in the 600 block of Harrisburg Pike in Columbus.
The United States Marshals Service worked directly with its local partners where the children were reported missing, Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo for example.
In addition to the local resources dedicated to recovering missing children, agents from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development assisted in the operation across the state as well.
“This action extends well beyond fighting waste, fraud, and abuse, it is about protecting vulnerable children in associated with HUD-assisted housing,” Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice said.
“Let this serve as an unmistakable message, there will be no sanctuary for those who prey upon or endanger the vulnerable and we will bring the full weight of our investigative authority, alongside the U.S. Marshals Service and our law-enforcement partners, to find those responsible, protect residents, and hold offenders accountable.”
On Aug. 18, during the operation, a 16-year-old girl was reported missing to the Toledo Police Department. Toledo Police and the U.S. Marshals led SPEAR Unit began working the case as the missing child was previously reported as a victim of human trafficking.
Law enforcement tracked leads in the Toledo area as well as into Michigan. Eventually officers were able to gather information about an adult male the girl may be with. Once identified, they located both the girl and the adult male at an address in the 1000 block of Woodward Avenue in Toledo.
The girl was provided with medical care and transported to the hospital for medical evaluation. The adult male on scene was interviewed, and local law enforcement is investigating potential criminal activity.
Law enforcement worked closely with Children and Family Services to ensure that once the children were recovered, they were connected with appropriate medical, psychological, and social service agencies.
Recovery by law enforcement is only the first step, these organizations provide ongoing support including trauma-informed counseling, family reunification services, and long-term case management when needed.
“I am very proud of our dedicated law enforcement, community and media partners who worked tirelessly to bring our missing and most vulnerable children to safety,” said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott. “Every recovered child represents a life pulled back from danger. We were so fortunate to have our friend Amanda Berry partner with us during Operation Meridian.
“She addressed our team prior to the operation and told them to treat every missing child like they were our own, and that’s what the men and women of the United States Mashal Service and our partners did. That is why this operation was such a success.”
Agency support for U.S. Marshals led Operation Meridian: Akron Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Chillicothe Police Department, Cincinnati Police Department, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Division of Police, Colerain Police Department, Columbus Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Dayton Police Department, Delaware County CART, FBI, Frankin County Sheriff’s Office, Garfield Heights Police Department, Grove City Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, HSI, HUD-OIG, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (Kentucky), Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, Ohio BCI, Orange Village Police Department, Ross County Sheriff’s Office, Solon Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Toledo Police Department, Westerville Police Department, and the Youngstown Police Department.