Four Utah siblings who disappeared after spending Thanksgiving with their mother have been reunited with their father and are on their way home after being found in a Croatian orphanage. The international search began when Elleshia Anne Seymour allegedly took 11-year-old Landon Seymour, eight-year-old Levi Parker Seymour, seven-year-old Hazel Raye Seymour, and three-year-old Jacob Kurt Brady out of the country in late November, violating a custody order.
Authorities say Elleshia Seymour, 35, was arrested in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on Friday, January 16, after she left the children at a state-run orphanage. Prosecutors charged her in December with four counts of custodial interference for removing the kids from Utah without the consent of their father. The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office is working with federal agencies on extradition, but no timeline has been announced, as reported by Fox News.
The children were discovered after one of them told a member of the Croatian host family to search his name online, which led to their location being reported to authorities, according to the children’s father, Kendall Seymour. He traveled to Croatia, hired local lawyers, and worked through international legal procedures to regain custody, supported by a GoFundMe campaign. Seymour said, “After so much work from SO many people, the Social Services employees informed us that the police had finished their investigation, returned the children’s passports, and gave us the go ahead to pick up the kids from the children’s group home in the morning! We are all excited to get back to (mostly) normal life,” as shared on his GoFundMe page.
Court documents show Elleshia Seymour had posted videos online describing apocalyptic visions and made plans to flee because she believed the “end times” were coming. Police found her apartment unlocked and abandoned, her car at the Salt Lake City International Airport, and notes outlining plans to shred documents and leave the country.
While the four siblings are now returning to Utah with their father, a fifth American child who traveled with Seymour remains in Croatia, and efforts continue to resolve his situation. Meanwhile, Elleshia Seymour remains in Croatian custody as extradition proceedings are underway. Further updates on her legal status are expected as the case progresses.
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