34 missing children found in three-day Long Island operation as officials connect them with care and support

As part of the three-day-long mission in Long Island and New York City, 34 children and teenagers have been found, who have been declared missing by their families, with the search focusing on the missing cases of minors ranging from 7 to 18 years of age.

This news was released by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on October 2, when the Long Island Missing Child Rescue Operation came to an end on Thursday. More than 100 people, representatives of almost 40 different organizations and authorities, were involved in the process, according to the state government and CBS New York.

The operation was carried out by the NYSDCJS Missing Persons Clearinghouse, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and the National Child Protection Task Force in cooperation with the New York State Police. Investigators from both Nassau and Suffolk counties and the NYPD coordinated all of their efforts at a central command center in Garden City where they reviewed case files, pursued new leads, shared intelligence and used investigative technology.


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The National Child Protection Task Force stated that the operation targeted children who were seen as vulnerable to “endangerment, exploitation, and harm.” The strategy behind using such a multiagency team was not only to locate the children but also to understand what their needs were once located.

What happened after the children were found?

It was stressed that the operation did not end with the finding of the missing child by the investigators. Social workers, advocates, and community organizations assisted in evaluating individual circumstances and arranging services.

Based on their specific requirements, the children could get safe-placement options, medical assistance, counseling, transportation, food, and clothes. The medical examination and forensic interviews were also carried out, when needed, according to New York officials.

According to the National Child Protection Task Force, one missing child who was missing for two years was found during the operation and referred to trained advocates.

“During the operation, a youth who had been missing for two years was located and connected with trained advocates. She was given time to rest, a hot meal, and support for her immediate needs while advocacy and investigative professionals began determining what support she would need next. Her family, who had not seen her since she disappeared, expressed their gratitude to the team and prepared to reunite with her. After years missing, the recovery represented far more than closing a case- it created an opportunity for the child to be seen, supported, and given a safer path forward.”

Officials have not announced individual circumstances of all 34 cases, and the finding of a missing child does not always imply family reunification.

A wider picture of missing children in New York

The operation also highlights the scale of missing-child investigations across the state. New York officials said 10,629 children under 18 were reported missing in 2025, with 94% classified as runaways. Police closed 10,672 missing-child cases during that year, including cases that had been opened in earlier years. At the end of 2025, 1,079 active missing-child cases remained statewide.

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This was New York's fourth operation of this type. Previous efforts in Erie County, the Capital Region and Westchester County resulted in the location of 168 children and teenagers reported missing to participating police departments.

“Every missing child deserves our full attention, and every family deserves answers,” Hochul said. She added that the state's responsibility continues after a child is located, with an emphasis on providing “care, support and stability” to help keep vulnerable young people safe.