Missing New York girl rescued in Chicago suburb after being lured by illegal migrants

A missing 13-year-old girl from upstate New York was recovered from a suburban Chicago apartment after authorities said she was lured away from home by illegal immigrants. The unidentified teen, who disappeared from Rochester on Sept. 11, was located Sept. 21 at an apartment complex in Blue Island, Ill., about 20 miles south of downtown Chicago, federal marshals said.

The girl was found inside a Blue Island residence with an 18-year-old man and his father, who were detained by federal agents for immigration violations. No charges have been filed against them as of Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. Officials described the two men as being in the United States illegally at the time of the discovery. Investigators noted that a second girl found in the same apartment is believed to have been lured to the location by the same 18-year-old, according to local reporting.

The Rochester-based operation that led to the rescue involved U.S. Marshals Service offices in multiple districts and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Authorities said they received tips and pursued leads that assisted in tracing the girl from her Rochester home to the Chicago area.

Security footage captured the girl leaving her residence before authorities say she entered a light-colored SUV with the suspects near her home. The investigation quickly shifted to whether the child had been exploited or trafficked, with officials saying there was a perceived danger that prompted authorities to prioritize the case.

U.S. Marshals officials described the case as a coordinated national effort. A Rochester-based marshal said the case was moved to top priority as investigators examined every angle to determine how the child ended up in Illinois and who might have been responsible for taking her from her family’s home. The marshals said the collaboration with the NCMEC and other federal partners was critical to locating the child and ensuring her safety.

Weaving through the timeline, bureau officials noted that Rochester marshals, working with local NCMEC personnel, developed information indicating the child had traveled to the Chicago area. That collateral lead was shared with U.S. Marshals in the Northern District of Illinois, enabling a cross-jurisdictional effort that culminated in the Sept. 21 operation. Blue Island sits about 20 miles south of Downtown Chicago, a detail officials emphasized to illustrate the distance from the girl’s home to the location where she was recovered.

In a statement, a Federal Marshals Service spokesperson characterized the operation as a concerted effort to remove a vulnerable child from danger and bring her home. The official also acknowledged the broader dangers posed by trafficking and exploitation and emphasized that children deserve safe communities. “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,” the spokesperson said.

The case also drew attention to the role of social media in luring minors into unsafe situations. Officials indicated the girl had been targeted through online outreach, and investigators said the suspect used those digital channels to lure her away from her Rochester residence. Authorities stressed vigilance about online interactions and the importance of reporting suspicious activity that involves minors.

As the investigation progressed, officials confirmed that a second girl discovered with the teen is believed to have been drawn to the same apartment by the same 18-year-old. The relationship between the two teenagers and the individuals who arranged the trip remains under review, with investigators examining whether exploitation or trafficking occurred beyond the initial abduction.

The Blue Island rescue underscored the value of interagency cooperation. U.S. Marshals and NCMEC representatives stressed that information sharing between regional offices, law enforcement agencies, and the nonprofit group was essential to closing the case and ensuring the children’s safety. While the two adults remain in custody on immigration grounds, prosecutors have not disclosed any additional charges related to the missing girl as the investigation continues.

Officials did not provide detailed information about the identities of the suspects or the families involved, citing ongoing investigations. They reiterated their commitment to pursuing every available avenue to determine how the girl was lured, how she traveled from New York to Illinois, and whether any additional victims are connected to the case. The marshals urged the public to report any information that could help authorities determine the full scope of the alleged exploitation and assess the risks to other children.

The Rochester-area missing-child case has prompted renewed attention to online safety and the opportunities for predators to target vulnerable youths. Local officials in Rochester said they were working with federal partners to support the family and to review any similar cases that may have been affected by trafficking networks. Community leaders called for continued outreach and education to help families recognize red flags and secure safer online experiences for their children.

In Blue Island, city officials noted that the apartment complex where the girl was located has since been connected to the case as part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities emphasized that the safety of children in the area remains the central concern and pledged to continue cooperating with federal authorities to identify those responsible for the alleged exploitation and trafficking.

The case has prompted officials to remind families to monitor youths’ online activity and to report concerning social-media postings or outreach that could indicate attempts to lure minors away from home. Investigators said that, while this particular case involved two men found in the country illegally, the broader risk of exploitation remains a nationwide concern and that steps to protect children must be ongoing across jurisdictions.

If you have information related to this case, authorities urged contacting the U.S. Marshals Service or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. No further details were provided about the identity of the missing girl or the suspects as the investigation continues, and officials emphasized that more updates would be released as warranted.