Tennessee Authorities Recover 150 Missing and Exploited Children

One of the most scurrilous scourges that has ever faced human civilization is the exploitation of children, often for the purpose of things that one would shudder to put into writing.

And even children who are missing, but not presumed to be taken are at a much higher risk for this sort of danger, as they face a scary and unknown world of predatory and repugnant human beings.

That is why stories like the latest out of Tennessee are to be celebrated heartily. 

The Marshals Service, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced 150 children were recovered as part of Operation Volunteer Strong.

In the fall of 2020, the agencies began creating files on 240 children that had been reported missing in the state. The operation ended in February with 150 of those children recovered. The children ranged in age from three to 17 years old, Shelly Smitherman with the TBI said.

Authorities were rightfully proud of their accomplishments.

According to Tyreece Miller with the U.S. Marshals Service, 52 children were recovered, and multiple arrests were made in West Tennessee, including the arrest of Tiffany Moore who was wanted in Memphis for attempted carjacking.

Two children were also recovered in Georgia and Wisconsin, respectively.

“Just like the Tennesseans who volunteered to fight for our country in the War of 1812… DCS, TBI and the US Marshals Service went to battle for our children,” Miller said.

At least one of the children was an explicit victim of human trafficking, and the FBI was called into assist.