The U.S. Marshals Service announced Tuesday that 79 children between the ages of 6 and 17 were located and safely recovered during 'Operation Meridian', a statewide effort conducted throughout August with assistance from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

The operation focused on children reported missing under a variety of circumstances, including suspected sex trafficking, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, runaway cases, and other forms of endangerment. Investigators worked across jurisdictional boundaries, following leads both within Ohio and in other states.

The cases included a long-term investigation involving two sisters, ages 13 and 16, who had been reported missing at different times. Investigators working with the Columbus Police Department located the younger girl concealed inside a basement crawlspace at a home in Lockbourne. The second girl was recovered later that day at a restaurant in Columbus. The children's mother was arrested on an outstanding probation-violation warrant.

Another case involved a 16-year-old Toledo girl who had previously been identified as a victim of human trafficking. After she was reported missing on Aug. 18, the U.S. Marshals and Toledo police followed leads in Ohio and Michigan before locating her with an adult man at a Toledo residence. The girl received medical care and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, while local authorities continued investigating possible criminal activity involving the adult man.

The operation brought together law enforcement agencies from across Ohio, including departments in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo, as well as the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and other federal, state and local agencies. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Inspector General also assisted investigators in cases involving HUD-assisted housing.

U.S. Marshals officials said recovering the children is only the first step. Investigators worked with Children and Family Services agencies to connect recovered children with medical, psychological and social-service resources, including trauma-informed counseling, family reunification assistance and longer-term case management when needed.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott credited law enforcement, community and media partners with helping locate the children. He also said former kidnapping victim Amanda Berry addressed members of the operation before it began and encouraged investigators to treat every missing child as they would their own.

Operation Meridian is part of the U.S. Marshals Service's broader work locating missing and endangered children. Earlier this year, the agency's SPEAR Unit, or Specialized Personnel for Enforcement, Apprehension and Recovery, was established in Northern Ohio to work cases involving missing children, sex offenders and other serious investigations.

Officials said the cases recovered during Operation Meridian involved different circumstances, and investigations into individual cases remain ongoing.