Tennessee task force recovers 150 missing children
By Steve Almasy and Anjali Huynh, CNN
Updated 9:35 PM ET, Wed March 3, 2021
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Shelly Smitherman said some children left home voluntarily while others were dealing with abuse or exploitation. (CNN)A total of 150 missing children ranging in age from 3 to 17 were recovered in January and February during a joint law enforcement operation, authorities in Tennessee said Wednesday.
The task force recovered the children some of whom are potential victims of human trafficking in three sweeps throughout the state.
The situations of the children recovered vary widely, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Shelly Smitherman said, ranging from children that left home during difficult situations, some who were found with non-custodial family members to children dealing with abuse or exploitation.
Joint effort leads to agencies finding 150 missing children
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WSMV) A joint operation between the U.S. Marshals Service, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation resulted in those agencies finding 150 missing children across the state.
Planning for the effort, named Operation Volunteer Strong, began in fall 2020 with operation efforts launching on Jan. 4.
After identifying 240 missing children statewide, TBI intelligence analysts compiled information and potential leads on each, which designated law enforcement teams carefully pursued during two-week blitzes in each of Tennessee’s three grand regions.
U.S. Marshals said at least two of the missing children were identified as a possible human trafficking victim.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A coordinated effort led to the recovery of 150 missing children across Tennessee, the state s Bureau of Investigation announced Wednesday.
Planning for Operation Volunteer Strong began in fall 2020, when 240 children were identified statewide. The operation launched on Jan. 4 with series of two-week blitzes in East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee. Those led to the recovery of 150 of those children, the TBI said in a news release.
At least five of the children were potential victims of human trafficking, according to the release. Cases are still open for each of them. One child was rescued during a kidnapping investigation, resulting in the arrest of a suspect.