Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe
Topics: Utah, Europe, Mental Health, GoFundMe
William Morgan
A mom who took her four kids on a one-way trip to Europe after allegedly hearing a message from God about 'the end times' has sparked an international manhunt.
Elleshia Anne Seymour, from Utah, was seen on security cameras taking her children through Salt Lake City International Airport and boarding a flight to Croatia, eastern Europe, without the permission of her kids' two fathers.
The 35-year-old has been accused of kidnapping the little ones by her ex-husband Kendall Seymour, who is father to three of the children and shares partial custody. In a GoFundMe appeal to help locate the kids and fly them home, he said they had been 'abducted overseas by their mother' who had 'forged passport documents'.
He went on to explain that his ex-wife left behind a 'delusional message from God' stating her intent to be in Italy by Christmas, as well as a written list that included: "Shred paperwork, destroy identifying photos, throw away phone, purchase pre-paid phone."
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The father-of-three was notified days later, December 2, when he received a voicemail stating that the children were in France and Elleshia would try to get permanent residency before the 'end times.'
Mom Elleshia has since been charged with four counts of custodial interference and a third-degree felony in the state of Utah, where an abduction alert has also been issued. Meanwhile, the FBI is working with local law enforcement to try and get the children, aged three to 10, back with their fathers.
Semour said he was hoping to escalate the manhunt for his ex-wife, according to ABC. "We’re hoping to get a state warrant turned into a federal warrant, turned into an INTERPOL warrant out there.”
He added: “Hopefully the next step is I get a phone call that she’s been found and then I can fly out and find the kids. As soon as that happens, me and my fiancé were going to drop everything and go get them.”
Speaking to ABC, family lawyer Marco Brown said the mom-of-four is facing four felony charges, but could avoid jail time due to mental health concerns. Brown added: “What I think is more likely is they get the kids back to the United States and if they share 50-50 custody, then he (Kendall Seymour) goes and modifies the custody, so he gets the majority of it and holds the kids’ passports.”
Almost a month after they were taken on a one-way trip to Croatia, the children have still not been located by officials. But it is hoped that the warrant against her means that local police 'could detain her and the United States would extradite her back.'
Appealing to the public for help to fund multiple cross-Atlantic flights and local hotel stays, Kendall Seymour implored: "Any funds received in excess of flight costs will go towards therapy needed because of this traumatic experience.
"My genuine hope is that the kids are found quickly, and we can pick them up while they still think they're on a vacation."
You can find the father's GoFundMe here.