BALTIMORE, MD – Multiple agencies worked together in the Northern District of Illinois in a case of what was described as a "critically missing juvenile" in Countryside.
The missing girl was a 15-year-old Guatemalan national who was placed with a sponsor in Elkton and disappeared in November, 2023.
Local detectives from the Elkton Police Department (EPD) discovered that the girl had traveled to Illinois from Maryland. It was suspected that she was there with "criminal associates," according to a joint press release.
Because of "interstate travel and the risk factors associated with the case," EPD joined forces with the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, District of Maryland, and Deputy U.S. Marshals to find the missing teen.
The girl was recovered at the end of February.
Deputy US Marshal Albert Maresca spoke with LET, saying, "So many children go missing, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But every one of these kids brings something special to the world. We owe it to them to find them and make sure they know how important they are, and how much they truly matter to the community."
“Far too many children fall victim to the plight of exploitation and human trafficking,” stated acting U.S. Marshal Mathew Silverman. "We created our Silver Shield Unit here in the District of Maryland to help protect the most vulnerable members of our population. This recovery reflects the true strength of our public safety partnership.”
"Whether working side by side or a distance of hundreds of miles, the teamwork and dedication to mission of our deputy marshals does not falter,” stated LaDon Reynolds, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. “The recovery, or in this case rescue, of a missing child remains a top priority.”
“This case is a fantastic example of law enforcement’s capacity to successfully collaborate across multiple jurisdictions,” stated Carolyn Rogers, Chief of Police for the Elkton Police Department. “Our communities deserve the best efforts we have to offer, and law enforcement performs at its best when we pool our intelligence and resources to maximize the efficiency of our efforts.
According to the press release, additional agenceies who participated in the investigation were: U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Border Patrol; Chicago Police Department (IL); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chicago; and the Maryland Office of Refugees and Asylees.
The missing girl was a 15-year-old Guatemalan national who was placed with a sponsor in Elkton and disappeared in November, 2023.
Local detectives from the Elkton Police Department (EPD) discovered that the girl had traveled to Illinois from Maryland. It was suspected that she was there with "criminal associates," according to a joint press release.
Because of "interstate travel and the risk factors associated with the case," EPD joined forces with the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, District of Maryland, and Deputy U.S. Marshals to find the missing teen.
The girl was recovered at the end of February.
Deputy US Marshal Albert Maresca spoke with LET, saying, "So many children go missing, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But every one of these kids brings something special to the world. We owe it to them to find them and make sure they know how important they are, and how much they truly matter to the community."
“Far too many children fall victim to the plight of exploitation and human trafficking,” stated acting U.S. Marshal Mathew Silverman. "We created our Silver Shield Unit here in the District of Maryland to help protect the most vulnerable members of our population. This recovery reflects the true strength of our public safety partnership.”
"Whether working side by side or a distance of hundreds of miles, the teamwork and dedication to mission of our deputy marshals does not falter,” stated LaDon Reynolds, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. “The recovery, or in this case rescue, of a missing child remains a top priority.”
“This case is a fantastic example of law enforcement’s capacity to successfully collaborate across multiple jurisdictions,” stated Carolyn Rogers, Chief of Police for the Elkton Police Department. “Our communities deserve the best efforts we have to offer, and law enforcement performs at its best when we pool our intelligence and resources to maximize the efficiency of our efforts.
According to the press release, additional agenceies who participated in the investigation were: U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Border Patrol; Chicago Police Department (IL); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chicago; and the Maryland Office of Refugees and Asylees.
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The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
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