U.S. Marshals: 79 Missing Children Found in Ohio

The U.S. Marshals Service says 79 reported missing and endangered children were located during a monthlong statewide effort billed as the largest missing-child operation in Ohio history.

Operation Meridian was conducted throughout August with help from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The children ranged in age from 6 to 17 and had been reported missing under a variety of circumstances, including suspected sex trafficking, abuse, neglect and runaway cases.

The Marshals Service says investigators worked cases across Ohio and, in some instances, followed leads out of state.

One case involved two sisters, ages 13 and 16, who had been missing from the Columbus area. Investigators say the 13-year-old was found hidden in a basement crawlspace at a Lockbourne home, while her older sister was located later that day at a Columbus restaurant.

In Toledo, investigators also recovered a 16-year-old girl who had previously been identified as a human trafficking victim. She was taken for medical evaluation, and authorities are investigating possible criminal activity involving an adult man found with her.

The operation included help from police departments in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo, along with numerous other agencies across Ohio.