Historic Ohio Operation Recovers 79 Missing and Endangered Children
Federal authorities located 79 missing and endangered children during a sweeping monthlong operation that officials described as the largest effort of its kind in Ohio history.
Operation Meridian unfolded throughout August and brought together the U.S. Marshals Service and numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
The children, ranging in age from 6 to 17, had disappeared under circumstances involving suspected sex trafficking, abuse, neglect, runaway incidents and other serious threats to their safety.
Fugitive-Tracking Resources Used to Find Children
Investigators pursued leads across Ohio and beyond state lines, with some searches extending as far south as Georgia, according to WSYX-TV.
U.S. Marshal Michael Black said the agency deployed investigative tools and resources ordinarily used by federal fugitive task forces to track down some of America’s most dangerous criminals. Those same capabilities, he explained, can also help locate vulnerable children believed to be in danger.
“We are proud to be able to assist our law enforcement partners in locating and reuniting missing children with their families,” Black said.
The operation demonstrated what law enforcement can accomplish when agencies cooperate across jurisdictions and remain focused on protecting children from exploitation and abuse.
Sisters Found After Separate Disappearances
One investigation centered on two sisters, ages 13 and 16, who were reported missing at different times.
The younger girl had been missing since July 2024, while her older sister was reported missing in April 2026.
Working alongside the Columbus Police Department, investigators followed leads to a residence in Lockbourne, Ohio. Authorities discovered the 13-year-old concealed inside a basement crawlspace accessible through the floor of a bedroom closet.
The children’s mother was subsequently arrested on an outstanding Franklin County warrant connected to a probation violation.
Information uncovered during that investigation helped authorities determine the possible location of the 16-year-old sister. She was later found at a Columbus restaurant.
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Trafficking Victim Located in Toledo
Another case involved a 16-year-old girl previously identified as a human-trafficking victim. She was reported missing on Aug. 18.
The U.S. Marshals Service and the Toledo Police Department’s SPEAR Unit pursued leads throughout Toledo and into Michigan. Their investigation eventually identified an adult man believed to be accompanying the teenager.
Authorities ultimately located both the girl and the man at a residence on Woodward Avenue in Toledo.
Federal partners from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also participated, helping investigators follow leads involving federally assisted housing.
Police departments and other agencies in Cleveland, Columbus, Akron and Toledo were among those that supported the broader effort.
Operation Meridian concluded with authorities successfully locating all 79 children targeted by the investigation—a major victory for law enforcement and a powerful reminder that protecting vulnerable children demands persistence, cooperation and uncompromising vigilance.