U.S. Marshals Safely Recover Missing/Endangered Juvenile

Gallup, NM – In April the U.S. Marshals began to aid state and local law enforcement with efforts to locate this missing/endangered juvenile, and on May 19, U.S. Marshals in the Farmington and Santa Fe offices developed information that the juvenile was still in Gallup and responded to the location.  The juvenile was safely recovered and turned over to Gallup Police Department, to be reunited with her family.

“There is no mission of greater importance than protecting those who are most vulnerable,” said Sonya K. Chavez, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico.  “Locating this young girl and returning her to a safe place was the result of solid investigative work and strong law enforcement partnerships.”

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 enhanced the U.S. Marshals’ authority to assist law enforcement with recovering endangered missing children, regardless of whether a fugitive or sex offender was involved. The Marshals established a Missing Child Unit to oversee and manage the implementation of its enhanced authority under the act. 

Since its partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children began in 2005, the agency has recovered over 3,050 missing children. Additionally, of the missing children recovered, 62 percent were recovered within seven days of the U.S. Marshals Service assisting with the case. 

According to the FBI National Crime Information Center, there were 359,094 reported entries for missing children in 2022. Compared to the FBI’s count in 2021, the number of missing children in the National Crime Information Center has increased by 21,899.

Anyone with information on wanted fugitives is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102 or the USMS Tips App.