US Marshals find 31 missing Arizona children during Operation Desert Dawn

PHOENIX — A three-week initiative called Operation Desert Dawn led to the discovery of 31 missing Arizona children, including endangered runaways, authorities said.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, the operation led to the safe recovery of a 16-year-old girl believed to be a victim of sex trafficking in Glendale and a 17-year-old girl in Phoenix who was also suspected to be a victim of sex trafficking.

Some other highlights of Operation Desert Dawn were the safe location of:

• An 11-year-old girl with mental health concerns
• An unhoused 16-year-old with substance use challenges
• A 17-year-old who had been missing for 18 months
• A 14-year-old who was missing from Phoenix and was found in Tucson

Which agencies were involved in Operation Desert Dawn?

The U.S. Marshals Service led the initiative, along with help from state and local agencies across metro Phoenix, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Van Bayless, U.S. marshal for the District of Arizona, said the operation ran from April 13 to May 1.

“Each child we located represents a young life removed from the risk of exploitation, abuse or worse,” Bayless said in a Tuesday news release. “Through the dedication of our partners, these children now have the opportunity to return to safety and begin moving forward.”

Authorities targeted Valley areas with high concentrations of critically missing children. This term refers to youths who are seen as being at significant risk of exploitation, abuse and human trafficking.

The Phoenix and Glendale police departments took part in Operation Desert Dawn, along with the Arizona departments of public safety and child safety.

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