Two children reunited with fathers after international kidnapping

Wisconsin residents with an interest in child custody cases may want to know about a case out of Los Angeles. Two children kidnapped by their mother and kept in Europe were recently reunited with their respective fathers. It is a bizarre kidnapping case complicated by many factors.

The children, fathered by two different men, were taken by their shared mother on an authorized trip to Europe in June of 2012. The fathers became concerned when their sons were not returned on the assigned date of the custody agreement. An international search began with the combined efforts of the FBI, Interpol and local police personnel, and after 18 months, the boys and their mother were finally found. Authorities said the mother had changed the boys’ names and their appearances in order to elude detection.

The mother was arrested in mid December of 2013 in Divonne les Bains in France. She was apprehended on an international arrest warrant. A French court ordered that the boys be returned to their fathers. The mother also faces charges in the United States, where the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office levied felony criminal charges for two counts of child detention with right to custody against her in August.

Parenting plans are often met with contention by parents involved in custody battles. In a case such as this, when a parenting plan is exploited and results in kidnapping charges, parents may wish to pursue a new arrangement that better suits the child’s needs and ensures the child’s safety. Ultimately, a family court may need to determine the best plan for the child or children involved. Parents could seek appropriate counsel to obtain the best outcome.

Source: Huffington Post, “Fathers Reunited With Their Kids 18 Months After Kidnapping“, Brenda Gazzar, December 30, 2013