Florida Attorney General James Usmeyer announced the results of Operation Holiday Home, a massive multi-state rescue operation that resulted in the successful rescue of 122 missing children. The effort, led by the U.S. Marshals Service with support from state and local agencies, is said to be one of the largest child retrieval operations in American history.
Usmayer said the operation exceeded the scale and scope of Operation Dragon Eye, a major recovery effort carried out earlier this year. For two weeks, law enforcement teams worked in Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville and Fort Myers, as well as nine other states, searching for missing and at-risk youth. The effort resulted in six felony arrests, with more charges expected as the investigation progresses.
“Thanks to one of the largest child rescue operations in U.S. history, 122 missing children have been found safe,” Usmayer said. He praised the coordinated law enforcement efforts across jurisdictions and stressed that prosecutors will seek maximum punishment for offenders. “Many of these children have been harmed in unspeakable ways, and we will prosecute their abusers to the fullest extent of the law.”
U.S. Marshal Bill Berger said the operation was shaped by needs identified within Florida communities. “The U.S. Marshals Service is proud to work with our partners across Florida in the pursuit of the safety and well-being of children,” Berger said. “We are honored to play a leading role in answering those calls.”
State agencies also emphasized their interagency coordination role and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ focus on protecting vulnerable youth. FDLE Deputy Director Bayden Pollard said the success of the recovery effort demonstrated the strength of the partnership between federal, state and local agencies. “By gathering critical information, pursuing every lead, and working together…we accomplished our unified mission and delivered meaningful results. 122 children and youth are now safe,” Pollard said.
Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor N. Hatch and Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Matthew J. Walsh echoed that message, noting that the operation prioritizes rapid access to child-centered services. Victim advocates and child welfare professionals worked with investigators to provide assistance to each child as soon as they were located.
In total, the team found 57 children in the Tampa Bay area, 14 in Orlando, 22 in Jacksonville and 29 in Fort Myers. The scope of the operation expanded with recoveries in nine additional states. The children ranged in age from 23 months to 17 years, and many had been exposed to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and criminal activity.
The Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecutors will pursue multiple felony cases resulting from this operation, including charges related to child sexual assault and custodial interference. Officials said further arrests and charges are possible as the investigation continues.
