CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) – The U.S. Marshals Service said that it found 79 missing children in Ohio during a recent operation.
The operation, called Operation Meridian, was conducted throughout August in partnership with federal, state and local agencies to locate and recover the children.
The 79 children, who were between the ages of 6 and 17, had been reported missing or endangered. They were reported missing under a number of circumstances, including suspected sex trafficking, physical and emotional abuse, neglect and other forms of endangerment, according to the release.
“We are proud to be able to assist our law enforcement partners in locating and reuniting missing children with their families,” U.S. Marshal Michael Black said.
Marshals worked across jurisdictional lines to locate children as far away as Georgia.
In Southern Ohio, Marshals worked with the Columbus Police Department on a long-term missing children case involving two sisters, ages 13 and 16, who were reported missing in July 2024 and April 2026.
According to the release, law enforcement found the 13-year-old girl concealed in a basement crawlspace beneath the floor of a bedroom closet at a home in Lockbourne.
Marshals said the mother of the girls was arrested for an outstanding warrant through Franklin County for a probation violation.
During the recovery and arrest, officers learned more about the second missing girl, who was later found at a restaurant in Columbus.
Marshals said agents from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development assisted in the operation across the state as well.
“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,” Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice said.
In another case, Toledo police and a U.S. Marshals-led unit began investigating after a 16-year-old girl, who was previously reported as a victim of human trafficking, was reported missing on Aug. 18.
Law enforcement tracked leads in the Toledo area and Michigan, eventually gathering information about an adult male the girl may be with.
Officers found both the girl and the man at an address in Toledo.
According to the release, the girl was given medical care and taken to the hospital for medical evaluation.
The man was interviewed on the scene, and local law enforcement is investigating potential criminal activity.
Law enforcement said it worked closely with Children and Family Services to ensure that once the children were found, 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,” the release said.
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