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It was preserved as a record on October 25; the timeline below shows how it unfolded, with sources. Get the briefing to follow the top situations still developing: three emails a week, sourced and in order.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CRIME]

2 clusters · 14 sources · 16 days · First seen · Last updated

U.S. Marshals missing children recovery operations

Overview

The U.S. Marshals Service has conducted significant operations to recover missing and endangered children across several states.

In August 2026, the agency concluded ‘Operation Meridian’ in Ohio, described as the largest missing-child operation in the state’s history. This coordinated effort involving federal, state, and local law enforcement recovered 79 children between the ages of 6 and 17. The cases spanned issues such as suspected sex trafficking, abuse, neglect, and runaway situations, with some children located as far away as Georgia.

In a separate multi-agency effort, the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children located two children in the Washington, D.C. area who had been missing from Washington state since December 2023. Investigators determined the children had been taken by their mother to evade law enforcement following a loss of custody.

The agency noted that its authority to assist in such recoveries has been expanded by the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, which allows for intervention in cases where no fugitive or sex offender is directly involved.

Entities

U.S. Marshals Service · Columbus Police Department · Amanda Berry · Arlington Police Department · Baltimore County Police Department

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 7 sources
    U.S. Marshals recover two children missing since 2023

    Two children missing from Washington since 2023 were found safe in Virginia following a multi-state investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement.

  2. [CRIME] 8 sources
    U.S. Marshals recover 79 missing children in Ohio operation

    The U.S. Marshals Service recovered 79 missing and endangered children, aged 6 to 17, during Operation Meridian, the largest missing-child operation in Ohio history, conducted throughout August.

Sources

americafirstreport.com · countryherald.com · dalmartv.com · farmvilleherald.com · heartlandernews.com · midutahradio.com · myfoxatlanta.com · ntd.com · richlandsource.com · seacoastoldies.com · theamericantribune.com · thelibertydaily.com · timesng.com · zhiphopcleveland.com