The U.S. Marshals Service has concluded Operation Meridian, a month-long statewide operation in which 79 children reported missing or endangered in Ohio were found. Ohio authorities called the effort the largest missing-child operation in history. The operation took place throughout August 2026, when federal, state and local law enforcement personnel worked together to find vulnerable children from age 6 to 17. The Marshals Service announced the results on September 8.
What is Operation Meridian?
Operation Meridian was a coordinated effort by law enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service which worked to locate children who were missing or were considered endangered. The investigators looked into potential sex trafficking, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, runaway children and other dangerous situations.
The operation included agencies across Ohio, including police departments and sheriff’s offices in neighborhoods like Akron, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. Federal partners, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General, also supported the initiative.
The investigation did not stop in Ohio. Law enforcement followed leads across state lines and found children as far away as Georgia, showing the scale of the operation and the need for cooperation between different jurisdictions.
79 children located during the operation
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, the 79 children recovered ranged in age between 6 and 17. Their cases involved different circumstances— so not every missing-child case had the same cause or level of danger.
One case involved two sisters, ages 13 and 16, who were missing since July 2024 and April 2026. The younger sister was found in Lockbourne by investigators working with the Columbus Police Department. The older sister was found later at a restaurant in Columbus.
Another case involved a 16-year-old girl who had previously been reported as a victim of human trafficking. At the time of the operation, investigators followed up with leads in the Toledo area and in Michigan before finding her with an adult male in Toledo. She was taken for medical evaluation and local authorities continued to investigate possible criminal activity.
What happens after children are recovered?
Law enforcement officials emphasized that finding a missing child is only the beginning of the recovery process. Children found during Operation Meridian were connected with medical, psychological and social-service agencies.
Support can include trauma-informed counseling, family reunification help and long-term case management, depending on each child's circumstances.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott praised the agencies, community organizations and media partners for their assistance in the operation. He also emphasized the involvement of Amanda Berry, who spoke to the team before the operation and encouraged investigators to treat every missing child with the same care they would give their own children.
Why Operation Meridian matters
The 79 children’s recovery underscores the need for rapid information sharing and coordination between law enforcement agencies when children are missing or endangered.
While Operation Meridian is completed, officials say the more general challenge remains. This operation shows how investigative resources that are usually used to find fugitives can be put to work to reunite vulnerable children with families and services.
The operation is also a major effort on the part of the U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies that want to protect children who are potentially abused, exploited, neglected or put in harm’s way.
