
Between September 2025 and January 2026, the Memphis Safe Task Force—a joint operation uniting the TBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and allied agencies—safely recovered 146 high-risk missing children. Establishing a dedicated, specialized missing child unit backed by continuous, actionable intelligence from criminal analysts dramatically increases recovery rates. A standout success involved a 15-year-old missing from a Tennessee juvenile facility. Following a NCMEC tip, TBI Special Agent Emily Keifer swiftly coordinated with local and federal partners in Honolulu, Hawaii. By engaging Hawaii’s AMBER Alert Coordinator, Amanda Leonard, to manage logistical hurdles, the teen was safely located the next day. This highlights that cross-jurisdictional cooperation and robust state-to-state networking are essential for rapidly rescuing youths.
