A joint operation led by the U.S. Marshals has successfully recovered 32 missing children in the Akron and Summit County areas. Dubbed “Operation Homecoming,” the effort, which took place between August 19 and September 6, brought together the U.S. Marshals Missing Child Unit, the Akron Police Department, and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office to locate and safely return children who had been reported missing.

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The children, ranging in age from 13 to 18 years old, were found in various locations, including Akron and Cleveland.

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In one case, a child reported missing by Akron police in April 2022 was located safely across the country in Washington state.

Authorities described some of the situations the children had been found in as dangerous, involving environments with drugs, weapons, and in some instances, human trafficking.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott, who oversees operations in Northern Ohio, praised the collaborative effort, saying, “Dedicated work by our Missing Child Unit along with Akron Police and the Sheriff’s Office has made an incredible impact in the safe recovery of these children.

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The U.S. Marshals Service will continue to dedicate its time and resources to the safe recovery of missing children in our communities throughout northern Ohio.”

Deputy U.S. Marshal Vinny Piccoli, who leads the Missing Child Unit, shed light on the often difficult circumstances the children were found in. “Guns, drugs, whatever the case may be, people that they’ve been hanging out with—older males, older females—where there’s been trafficking involved, prostitution involved. We’ve removed kids from situations like that,” said Piccoli.

The operation not only sought to recover the missing children but also ensured that those found were provided with the necessary resources.

Law enforcement officers worked closely with Summit County Children Services to offer support to the children, particularly those who had been missing for extended periods.

Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree praised the collaboration between the various law enforcement agencies involved in the operation. “I’m proud of the excellent work of my team and of our partner agencies in this very important operation. It is a great example of how collaboration makes us stronger and helps us to better serve and protect our community,” Fatheree said.

Operation Homecoming is part of a broader effort to address the growing issue of missing and endangered children.

In 2015, federal lawmakers expanded the authority of the U.S. Marshals Service to search for missing children, enabling them to collaborate more effectively with local law enforcement agencies across the country.

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Last year, Elliott established the Missing Child Unit in Northern Ohio, further focusing resources on the recovery of vulnerable children in the region.

Akron Police Chief Brian Harding also expressed his appreciation for the success of the operation. “The partnership and devoted work by law enforcement in this operation directly led to the safe recovery of the missing child located across the country,” Harding stated, referring to the child found in Washington state.

The operation highlights the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to protect vulnerable children in their communities.

While the recovery of 32 missing children is a significant achievement, authorities acknowledge that much more work remains to be done.

The U.S. Marshals Service and its local partners have pledged to continue their efforts to locate and recover missing children, ensuring they are returned to safety.

Operation Homecoming is the latest in a series of efforts by the U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement agencies to tackle the issue of missing children.

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The operation underscores the importance of collaboration between federal, state, and local authorities to protect the most vulnerable members of society.

As the investigation into missing children continues, law enforcement agencies have committed to maintaining a strong presence in communities across Northern Ohio, ensuring that resources and efforts are directed toward reuniting families and safeguarding children from harm.

Full press release from the U.S. Marshals Service:

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the U.S. Marshals led ‘Operation Homecoming.’

Operation Homecoming was focused on the safe recovery of missing children from the Akron and Summit County areas.  The operation was a joint endeavor between the U.S. Marshals Service, the Akron Police Department and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.  Over the course of three weeks, from August 19 to September 6, members of the Missing Child Unit worked with Akron police and Summit Sheriff’s Deputies to identify missing and endangered children in their area.  During that time law enforcement was able to safely recover and locate 32 missing children.  The children ranged in age from 13-18 years old.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Dedicated work by our Missing Child Unit along with Akron Police and the Sheriff’s Office have made an incredible impact in the safe recovery of these children.  The U.S. Marshals Service will continue to dedicate its time and resources to the safe recovery of missing children in our communities throughout northern Ohio.”

“I’m proud of the excellent work of my team and of our partner agencies in this very important operation,” said Sheriff Fatheree. “It is a great example of how collaboration makes us stronger and helps us to better serve and protect our community.”

Some of the missing children were recovered in the Akron area, others in Cleveland, and one child, reported missing by the Akron Police Department in April 2022, was safely located in Washington state.  Akron Police Chief Brian Harding added, “The partnership and devoted work by law enforcement in this operation directly led to the safe recovery of the missing child located across the country.”

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Law enforcement officers worked closely with Summit County Children’s Services to ensure that resources were available to the children that were recovered, especially those who had been missing for a longer period of time.

Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.  Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.

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