U.S. Marshals Find Missing New York Child Near Chicago in the Company of Two Adult Males in the Country Illegally

Washington, DC – U.S. Marshals, working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), have recovered a child who was reported missing in Rochester, New York, Sept. 11, 2025. The child was found near Chicago, Illinois in the company of two adult men in the country illegally, announced U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta.

On Sept 16, 2025, the Rochester Police Department requested assistance from U.S. Marshals in the Western District of New York to find the missing and endangered girl after an investigation revealed the child left her family’s home on Sept. 11. Security camera video revealed three individuals met the girl near her home and left in a light-colored SUV with her.

U.S. Marshals in Rochester, working with the local NCMEC office, developed information that the child had traveled to the Chicago area and sent a collateral lead to U.S. Marshals in the Northern District of Illinois.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, U.S. Marshals recovered the missing child at an apartment complex in the 2300 block of West 119th Street in Blue Island, Illinois. The child was in the company of an 18-year-old male and his father; Immigration and Customs Enforcement determined the two adult men are in the U.S. illegally.

“The United States Marshals Service worked tirelessly to recover this endangered child from the predators who should have never been in this country to take her from the safety of her family and home. Our children deserve safe cities!” said Serralta.

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 enhanced the USMS discretionary authority to assist other law enforcement agencies with the recovery of missing, endangered or abducted children, regardless of whether a fugitive or sex offender was involved. The U.S. Marshals have a Missing Child Unit to oversee and manage the implementation of its enhanced authority under the act. Upon request, the Marshals assist other law enforcement agencies with the recovery of “critically missing children,” who have gone missing under circumstances that indicate an elevated risk to the child.

The U.S. Marshals are leading the way in a nationwide effort to rescue and recover missing and exploited children, thereby aiding in the prevention of human trafficking.