Authorities find 51 of 76 missing children during Genesee County sweep

Authorities find 51 of 76 missing children during Genesee County sweep

GENESEE COUNTY (WJRT) (6/14/2018) - A collaborative effort across Genesee County brought 51 of 76 children reported missing back into safe hands.

About 70 police officers from most agencies in the county targeted specific homes, rescuing children from human trafficking.

The kids, all under the age of 17, were reported missing after failing to show up for court hearings, missing school or were foster children the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services hadn't heard from for a while.

Police say four to six of the children were being trafficked. One of them was taking part in a forensic interviewer Thursday afternoon, talking about alleged sex crimes in which they were the victim.

All of the remaining children subjected to sex trafficking will receive forensic interviews in the near future.

Click link for article..

So when kids go missing the first 24 hours are critical. In many cases going beyond that time frame the chances of finding the child, let alone finding them alive, dwindle. Recently the federal government made more than 2000 arrests nationwide dealing with pedophiles. More than 160 were arrested in Atlanta Georgia alone.

In Michigan more than 70 officers from every single law enforcement agency in Genesee County Michigan (Flint area with a population of more than 400k people) executed raids across the county. The end result was the successful recovery of more than 50 missing children all under the age of 17 (with about 20 being runaways).

Its not often we hear about the successful recovery of a missing child and its even more rare when the child is still alive. Locating and recovering more than 50+ is a number I have never seen before in my career and the fact all were still alive stunned me.

Definitely some happy families in the state of Michigan and one hell of a Fathers day gift.

With all the doom and gloom lately I thought a story with a good ending for a change was needed.

20 were runaways? Six of the 51 were victims? What were the rest? Abandoned?

Runaways are at high risk. No doubt.

400000 People in the Flint area?? Under 100k left in Flint The whole county might have that many not counting the jail population. Flint used to have the largest number of strip clubs for the population. 16 If I recall. Good times in the 80's

That is amazing news and no doubt an answer to more than a few prayers.

Bravo to LE for a job well done... now lets get to the upper echelons of society as well. Unfortunately this type of work is never “ finished”. 😕

I read about this the other day.

I think the 400K is the county in general. Crazy that Genessee county shares a border with Oakland country which is one of he wealthiest counties in the nation...

Anywho the human trafficking thing in flint and up in Saginaw and no doubt networking down to Detroit (and also multiple Canada borders) is really out of control.

Given the fact that most of the flint schools are barely even functioning... my mom has been with the Genessee School district my whole life and will retire this winter... the stories I Hear daily are insane... it’s no wonder this many kids can just go missing and un accounted for.



a reply to: Xcathdra

lol the sad thing is some of those clubs are probably still open and Employing the same women!

Actually in all seriousness all the strip clubs and massage parlors and motels (Hemphill Motel, anyone?) are big factors in the human trafficking problems the area has been seeing.


a reply to: mikell

a reply to: Phage

Sounds like some of them were being neglected, no one forced them to go to school or home schooled them, so they were flagged as missing, maybe some other relative or parent had reported them as missing. Or there could be issues with custody.

a reply to: Cutepants

It sounds like they were "rounded up", meaning they weren't living at a home. If it were simply a matter of truancy it would seem home would be the first place to look.

Hard to imagine. Hopefully they can find a home with someone who won't neglect (ignore) them. Or perhaps they'll just split again. Not that it's their fault.

originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: Cutepants

It sounds like they were "rounded up", meaning they weren't living at a home. If it were simply a matter of truancy it would seem home would be the first place to look.

Hard to imagine. Hopefully they can find a home with someone who won't neglect (ignore) them. Or perhaps they'll just split again. Not that it's their fault.

You're right Phage. This is not about a pedo ring. It's about missing teen runaways.

a reply to: Xcathdra
Good news indeed.

I'm curious about the pimps---the article makes no mention of any arrests in the trafficing cases. Lots of vague in this story.

Lots of happiness for the kids and families. Hopefully, a lot of anxiety and fear for the bad guys. I'll be looking forward to the announcements of arrests.

Good job to all the agencies! Quite the accomplishment to get that many agencies working hand in hand.

a reply to: Phage
Yes, not really top-notch reporting is it? Perhaps we'll have more information as other sources become available. Surely it will be a big splash when the arrest warrants are served.

it say "Weiss saw more than 600 children come through the doors last year who had been victims of sexual abuse, child pornography or human trafficking."
"Police say four to six of the children were being trafficked."
"All of the remaining children subjected to sex trafficking will receive forensic interviews in the near future."???
"targeted specific homes"???

what are they Not saying?

a reply to: Phage

Well I figure you can be away from home without being a runaway or a trafficking victim. Or their caretakers did something to loose custody, but still kept the child.

originally posted by: mikell
400000 People in the Flint area?? Under 100k left in Flint The whole county might have that many not counting the jail population. Flint used to have the largest number of strip clubs for the population. 16 If I recall. Good times in the 80's

A democratic bastion of decay now

Sadly I'm concerned that they are being returned home. I hope they fully vet the safety and care occurring in those homes before dumping the child back with them.

a reply to: acackohfcc

A democratic bastion of decay now

Yes it is and it used to be so much to do but taxed then robbed into oblivion so everyone left. Born and raised there wouldn't think about going to the old neighborhood. heard the house was gone anyway.

RIP about 1985

a reply to: Xcathdra

The MSM is keeping the narrative focus on the child camps and not on the IG report or the huge pedo busts lately. Why is that, and why will it backfire in their face?
People didn't care when it happened under Obama but suddenly under Trump its a tragedy? What did Obama do with these kids vs what Trump is doing?
Was one releasing kids to any pedo trafficker that would claim them?

a reply to: AnonymousMoose

Because the IG report is more damaging to Democrats so they thought they would try to blame Trump for the immigration issue while hoping no one noticed just how bad Democrats were lying about it and what their own involvement was.

I enjoyed the UN Commissioner for human rights lecturing the US while nothing the UN didnt say crap when Obama was doing it. This entire situation is Democrat manufactured and based on lies.

Just like the water quality in Flint.

IG report?

Wrong thread?

originally posted by: Phage
IG report?

Wrong thread?

Yeah but Ill give it to him... I tried to bring it back towards Flint with the water comment.