“Some of these kids had vanished for over a year. Others had been missing just over a week. Every recovery is a life altered for the better,” Branzetti told the outlet.
Inside the Operation
The mission covered Clay, Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Putnam, and Flagler Counties. Through case reviews, advanced technology, and trauma-informed strategies, teams worked tirelessly to locate each child and secure safe environments for them post-recovery.
“The operation involved intensive case review, investigative follow-up, and advanced technology to rapidly locate children,” the NCPTF noted in its official release.
Operation Light Shine shared emotional glimpses into the impact of the rescues on social media, writing:
“What we witnessed this week was extraordinary. A girl with nothing offering her only meal to an advocate. Teens reimagining their future — asking about GEDs, stable housing, and careers.”
The nonprofit emphasized that “countless lives were forever changed.”
A Community United
A spokesperson for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office praised the unified action:
