Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Commissioner Mark Glass of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced the successful recovery of 163 missing children, including 12 in Fort Myers, during Operation Statewide Shield. The five-day operation focused on identifying, locating, and recovering missing children under the age of 18 across the state, using real-time intelligence and field operations. Children were found in various regions of Florida and in six states, one U.S. territory, and 12 countries. The children, ranging from 2 months to 17 years old, had experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other crimes, and were provided support and resources by law enforcement and social services. The Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice handled the transfer of custody for the recovered children, and three felony cases are being pursued by the Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
Tampa Bay: 46 children
Jacksonville: 32 children
Orlando: 21 children
Miami: 41 children
Fort Myers: 12 children
Pensacola: Eight children
Tallahassee: Three children