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The U.S. Marshals Service located 79 missing children across Ohio during Operation Meridian.

The U.S. Marshals Service announced the conclusion of Operation Meridian, a monthlong effort conducted throughout August to locate and recover 79 missing and endangered children between the ages of 6 and 17 across the state of Ohio. The operation focused on children reported missing due to various circumstances, including suspected sex trafficking, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and runaway cases. Law enforcement agencies worked across jurisdictional lines, with some children being located as far away as Georgia. The U.S. Marshals Service utilized the same resources and methods used by its fugitive task forces to find violent fugitives to recover the children. In one case, the U.S. Marshals Service worked with the Columbus Police Department to find two sisters, ages 13 and 16, who were reported missing in July 2024 and April 2026. The 13-year-old girl was found concealed in a basement crawlspace in Lockbourne, while the second girl was found at a restaurant in Columbus. The operation included support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and local partners in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo. Recovered children were connected with medical, psychological, and social service agencies for ongoing support.

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