43 Missing Children Recovered in New York Operation
A rescue operation in Westchester County, New York, has successfully recovered 43 missing children. Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the effort. Authorities are now in the process of reuniting the children with their families and providing necessary support services.
- The three-day effort, which ended Thursday, February 12, 2026, was officially called the "Westchester Missing Child Rescue Operation." - More than 70 local, state, and federal agencies participated, including the FBI, the United States Marshal Service, and police departments from Yonkers, Mount Vernon, White Plains, and others. - The recovered children and teens ranged in age from 8 to 17 years old at the time they were initially reported missing. - This initiative was the third of its kind in New York, following operations that located 47 missing children in Erie County and 71 in the Capital Region. - The operation focused on children at high risk of harm and exploitation, leveraging technology to analyze digital footprints on social media and gaming platforms to develop new leads. - In 2025, 10,629 children under 18 were reported missing in New York State, 94% of whom were classified as runaways. - Local nonprofit 914 Cares worked directly with the task force, providing recovered children with clothing, hygiene supplies, winter gear, and other comfort items. - The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Missing Persons Clearinghouse, the state Office of Children and Family Services, and the National Child Protection Task Force coordinated the multi-agency effort.
