KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Multiple agencies partnered in "Operation Rocky Top Rescue" to find missing children across the state, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.
"Eleven missing children from Knox County have been located following a two-day multi-agency joint operation in Knoxville, which focused on locating missing juveniles," TBI said in a release.
The partnership consisted of TBI, the Knox County Sherriff's Office, the Knoxville Police Department and the Department of Children's Services — Absconder Unit.
During the planning phase leading up to the two-day operation, intelligence analysts and detectives identified "numerous" juveniles who were missing in the Knoxville area. Sixteen of those children were located before the operation even began, TBI said.
"Juveniles, it can be complicated to locate them," said Assistant Special Agent Shelly Smitherman.
"During the two-day effort, on April 10th and 11th, five teams searched for an additional 25 missing juveniles," according to TBI.
Eleven of the juveniles, ranging from 14 to 17 years old, who were previously identified as missing, delinquent or runaway were located and are safe, TBI said.
“We use various investigative techniques that we would use on any missing child case," said Assistant Special Agent Smitherman. "It starts probably with family, we start with where they were last seen.”
Detectives also search for the missing juveniles online.
“Most children do have social media accounts," the TBI said.
Assistant Special Agent Smitherman said online enticement is on the rise.
"It's a struggle on the part of law enforcement because we're always kind of a step behind trying to identify," the TBI said. "It's hard to identify predators, and trying to explain to a child, 'You may not be talking to the person that you think you are.'"
"In the coming weeks, agencies will continue efforts to locate those children who were not found during the operation," the bureau also said.
TBI plans to complete another operation in Middle Tennessee before summer ends.
More information about missing children in Tennessee can be found on TBI's website.