FBI Seattle Celebrates National Missing Children's Day with Successful Recoveries

In honor of National Missing Children's Day, the FBI's Seattle field office is highlighting the recent successful recovery of four children who were kidnapped from Washington state and taken out of state or to another country. These cases exemplify the dedication and collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies, both domestically and internationally, in safeguarding abducted children and bringing them back to safety.

Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Seattle field office, emphasized the significant coordination required in child kidnapping cases involving multiple jurisdictions. He acknowledged the invaluable contributions of FBI agents, victim specialists, and other personnel in upholding the agency's mission to protect young American citizens unlawfully taken from the country.

One of the recent recoveries took place in March 2023 when the FBI Seattle successfully located and brought back a child from Morelia Michoacán, Mexico. In another case, a Longview, Washington, man reported in September 2022 that his son was kidnapped by his biological mother after a visitation. Prompt action by the FBI led to the child's safe recovery.

In February 2023, the FBI Seattle also managed to locate an eight-year-old girl, Aranza Maria Ochoa Lopez, who had been missing since 2018. The child was kidnapped by her biological mother from a shopping mall in Vancouver, Washington. Additionally, another eight-year-old child, Breadson John, who had been missing since June 2022, was safely recovered in Jasper County, Missouri. The FBI had issued a missing person poster for Breadson in January 2023, and the investigation determined that he had been taken to Missouri in August 2022.

The FBI's efforts to locate missing children sometimes extend beyond national borders. In the case of a five-year-old boy from Mount Vernon, Washington, the child was kidnapped by his foster parent and taken to Vietnam. The FBI worked diligently to locate and reunite the child with his rightful guardians.

To ensure the safety and privacy of the recovered children, their names and specific locations within the United States are not being disclosed beyond the previously released seeking information posters.

The FBI's involvement in missing persons cases primarily occurs when local law enforcement requests assistance with specialized tools, tactics, or techniques. Under the "Lindbergh Law" established in 1932, the FBI has jurisdiction to investigate reported mysterious disappearances or kidnappings involving children, typically 12 years old or younger. However, the FBI can support investigations for any missing child under the age of 18, collaborating with local police departments as an assisting agency.

The FBI's global presence plays a crucial role in international child abduction cases. With legal attaché offices, known as legats, and sub-offices in key cities worldwide, the FBI provides coverage for over 180 countries, territories, and islands. This extensive network enables effective cooperation with international partners in locating and rescuing abducted children.

National Missing Children's Day serves as a reminder of the ongoing commitment by law enforcement agencies to protect children and reunite them with their families. The FBI's relentless efforts, combined with the collaboration of various agencies, continue to make a significant impact in combating child abduction and ensuring the well-being of young individuals.