Nashville, TN – A coordinated effort to identify and locate
missing children across Tennessee has led to the recovery of 150 missing
children by the United States Marshals Service, Tennessee Department of
Children’s Services (DCS), and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
(TBI).
Planning for the effort, named ‘Operation
Volunteer Strong,’ began in the fall of 2020, with operation efforts
launching on January 4th. After identifying 240 missing children
statewide, TBI intelligence analysts compiled thorough information and
potential leads on each, which designated law enforcement teams
carefully pursued during two-week blitzes in each of Tennessee’s three
grand regions.
EAST TENNESSEE: January 4th – 15th
-
Authorities identified 86 missing children,
of which 56 were recovered, five of them in other states. -
Of the 56 children recovered, authorities
located 27 of them in the weeks leading up to the operation, and
three after it concluded. -
Law enforcement identified three of the
recovered juveniles as potential human trafficking victims,
resulting in a still-active TBI investigation.
“The U.S. Marshals are committed to assisting
state and local agencies with locating and recovering endangered missing
children to help prevent their falling victim to crimes of violence and
exploitation,” said David Jolley, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District
of Tennessee. “We will use every resource at our disposal to help find
these missing children.”
MIDDLE TENNESSEE: January 25th – February
5th
-
Authorities identified 72 missing children,
of which 42 were recovered. -
Of the 42 children recovered, authorities
located 29 of them in the weeks leading up to the operation, and 13
during the operation. -
Law enforcement identified one child as
a potential human trafficking victim, resulting in a still-active
TBI investigation.
“We can’t give up. We need the public, the media,
and all law enforcement to not give up,” said Denny King, U.S. Marshal
for the Middle District of Tennessee. “If you see something, or know
something, say something. We cannot give up and stop searching for our
most vulnerable and those who cannot help themselves.”
WEST TENNESSEE: February 8th – 12th &
February 22nd – 26th
-
Authorities identified 82 missing children,
of which 52 were recovered, three of them in other states. -
Of the 52 children recovered, authorities
located 33 of them in the weeks leading up to the operation, 18
during the operation, and one after it concluded -
While searching for missing children,
authorities located two adults with outstanding warrants. -
Law enforcement identified one of the
recovered juveniles as a human trafficking victim, resulting in a
still-active investigation by a Mississippi local law enforcement
agency and FBI. -
Authorities safely recovered a child during
an active kidnapping investigation, resulting in the arrest of the
suspect.
“I hope this operation changes the course for 150
young lives and leads them to the path of opportunities every child
deserves,” said Tyreece Miller, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of
Tennessee. “Our efforts should also serve notice to those who prey on
society’s most vulnerable that these children are not forgotten.
Investigations will continue and the next knock at the door could be for
you.”
During the operation, the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), based in Alexandria, VA,
provided research and analytical support.
“Operation Volunteer Strong is a great example of
how working together, we can find missing children and get them the help
they need to move forward,” said John Clark, NCMEC’s President and Chief
Executive Officer. “We’re thrilled to see so many missing children
recovered in Tennessee and we thank all the agencies involved for their
dedication to child protection.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation serves as
the clearinghouse for missing children in the state of Tennessee. In
this role, the agency provides support to local law enforcement
agencies, raises awareness of missing children and prevention efforts,
and administers high-profile efforts to locate missing children in
dangerous situations through its Endangered Child Alert and AMBER Alert
programs.
“Many people don’t realize this, but hundreds of
children go missing in our state every month,” said TBI Director David
Rausch. “From runaways that may leave their home out of desperation or
despair, to those entangled in a custody battle, every single one of
them deserves a fighting chance, and that’s why they also deserve our
best work to help them.”
Most of the children recovered during the
operation will receive services through the Tennessee Department of
Children’s Services, which may include placements in foster homes, group
homes, or other specialized care.
“We are grateful that missing children have been
recovered and are now receiving the services and treatment they need to
stay safe and healthy,” said DCS Commissioner Jennifer Nichols. “This
operation was truly a collaboration and it’s strengthened relationship
with our law enforcement partners. Working together, the agents,
marshals, and DCS case managers put in countless hours to track down
leads and locate these missing children.”
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found
at http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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