Missing Fort Myers Children Recovered in Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Fort Myers, FL - The U.S. Marshals Service Mexico Foreign Field Office and the Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force from Fort Myers partnered with state and local agencies to locate and recover two missing and endangered children in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, June 23.

The children were reported missing June 20, having been abducted by their biological parents, charged with interference with custody, who then fled the United States. The family was eventually located in Linares, a small city in the state of Nuevo Leon.

“The outstanding cooperation between the Fort Myers Police Department and the United States Marshals Service culminated in the recovery of the minor children and the successful conclusion of this case,” said United States Marshal for the Middle District of Florida William Berger.

The children were taken for medical evaluation and will be traveling back to the United States in the coming days.

The U.S. Marshals Service supports the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s mission to protect children from victimization by providing assistance to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. In fiscal year 2021, the USMS received 1,640 requests from law enforcement for assistance in missing child cases. With assistance from the USMS, 950 missing children were recovered.

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 enhanced the U.S. Marshals Service’s discretionary authority to assist other law enforcement agencies with the recovery of missing, endangered or abducted children, regardless of whether a fugitive or sex offender was involved. The USMS have a Missing Child Unit to oversee and manage the implementation of its enhanced authority under the act. Upon request, the Marshals assist other law enforcement agencies with the recovery of “critically missing children,” who have gone missing under circumstances that indicate an elevated risk to the child.

Since 2015 the agency has recovered more than 2,300 missing children. The USMS has recovered missing children in 56 percent of cases received. Of those recovered, 61 percent were recovered within seven days.

The Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force is composed of eight federal and 101 state and local agencies dedicated to violent crime reduction by locating and apprehending wanted criminals. USMS-led task forces also serve as investigation hubs for missing and exploited juveniles throughout the country.