Executive Summary
- A multi-agency task force in Florida, “Operation Home for the Holidays,” has recovered 122 missing children across the state.
- The operation involved the U.S. Marshals Service, FDLE, and local law enforcement agencies including the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
- Recovered children are supported at a special facility called “The Hub” at Golisano Children’s Hospital, which provides a safe environment for healing.
- The cases ranged from runaways to confirmed victims of human trafficking, according to officials.
A multi-agency law enforcement effort in Florida, dubbed “Operation Home for the Holidays,” has resulted in the recovery of 122 missing children across the state, including 29 in the Fort Myers area. The operation, described as the largest missing-child recovery effort in U.S. history, involved a collaboration between the U.S. Marshals Service, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cape Coral Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the Department of Children and Families.
The Operation
For over two weeks, task force members coordinated their efforts from a temporary command post at an FDLE office. U.S. Marshal Paul Cerase highlighted the significance of these recoveries, stating, “With fugitives, they go to jail and that’s it. With a kid, you’re actually saving a future.” Cases varied widely, from a 14-year-old boy who had been missing for over two years to a 16-year-old girl who had run away from home.
U.S. Marshals Command Post Chief Rob Watson explained the diverse and severe circumstances faced by the children. “You could have a child that simply had a falling out with her family,” Watson said. “Then, you could have a child that is being trafficked. We had a child, a 15-year-old confirmed human trafficking victim.” The operation aimed to locate children who were at risk of sexual or physical abuse or who had drug and alcohol dependencies.
‘The Hub’ Support Center
Following their recovery, some children are taken to a specialized facility known as “The Hub” at Golisano Children’s Hospital. This center is designed to provide a safe and comforting environment for children to heal and decompress. The rooms are equipped with toys, video games, and gift baskets rather than standard hospital furnishings. “It’s important for me to let them know that no matter what they go through, someone loves them, someone will care for them, and that the hospital will always be a safe place,” said Nurse Manager Erin Burcham.
Staff at The Hub focus on helping the children feel safe and cared for before they are reunited with family or placed in appropriate care. “When they first come in, they’re scared,” Burcham noted. “When they see this space and they see what they’re allowed to do here and just the option to just rest and decompress, it’s been really cool to watch them, like blossom.” The U.S. Marshals Service advises the public to call 911 immediately with any information regarding a missing child.