Westchester County Missing Child Rescue Operation Locates 43 Runaways

The three-day operation involved law enforcement, prosecutors, and social service providers to track down and assist young runaways.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A missing child rescue operation in Westchester County, New York this week was a significant success, with organizers locating 43 runaways between the ages of 8-17 over a three-day period. The effort involved a partnership between law enforcement, prosecutors, and social service providers to trace the digital footprints of the missing children and offer them support services.

Why it matters

The rescue operation highlights the ongoing challenges of addressing youth homelessness and runaway cases, which can leave young people vulnerable to exploitation and other dangers. The collaborative approach between different agencies aims to not only locate the missing children, but also provide them with the resources and care they need.

The details

The missing child rescue operation was led by Kevin Branzetti of the National Child Protection Task Force. Authorities used technology to trace the runaways' digital activity on social media, messaging apps, and gaming platforms. Each located runaway was then offered services tailored to their individual needs and circumstances, such as in the case of a pregnant teen who was found and connected with support for herself and her newborn.

  • The three-day rescue operation took place this week in Westchester County, New York.
  • Over the course of the three days, 43 runaways between the ages of 8-17 were located.

The players

Kevin Branzetti

Leads missing child rescue operations across the country through the National Child Protection Task Force, partnering with law enforcement, prosecutors, and social service providers.

Daniel Smith

New York State Police Major who noted the shift from traditional door-to-door searches to leveraging technology to trace runaways' digital footprints.

Tim Williams

Representative from the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse who assisted in the rescue operation.

Nina Aledort

Official with the Office of Children and Family Services who emphasized the importance of understanding if a missing child has been victimized and providing appropriate support.

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What they’re saying

“They are taking the time to make sure we do what we're supposed to do as adults, and it's care for our kids.”

— Kevin Branzetti, National Child Protection Task Force

“When I first came on over 25 years ago, to look for a missing child, it was knocking on doors, talking to individuals, developing human intelligence from interviews. Now, it's all about technology.”

— Daniel Smith, New York State Police Major

“We were able to locate her, make sure she was safe, but now also offer services to her and her newborn child.”

— Tim Williams, New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse

“And really understand whether a young person's been victimized, and how to support them if they are a victim of a crime when they've gone missing.”

— Nina Aledort, Office of Children and Family Services

“The amount of times I've heard a kid who's then found and recovered who said, 'I didn't know anybody cared.' How does that not break your heart?”

— Kevin Branzetti, National Child Protection Task Force

What’s next

Authorities will continue to work with the located runaways to ensure they receive the necessary support services and are safely reunited with their families where possible.

The takeaway

This rescue operation highlights the ongoing challenges of addressing youth homelessness and runaway cases, and the importance of a collaborative approach between law enforcement, social services, and other stakeholders to not only locate missing children, but also provide them with the care and resources they need to get back on their feet.