A couple accused of kidnapping a 10-year-old boy and transporting him to Cuba appeared before a federal judge in the United States on Monday, after being deported from the island in an operation coordinated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. authorities reported.
Rose Inessa-Ethington, 42, and her partner Blue Inessa-Ethington, 32, were presented in court in Richmond, Virginia, and will be transferred to Utah, where they will face federal charges of international kidnapping of a minor, according to news reports and a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case, which has generated significant controversy, originated in early April when Lindsey Boden, the biological mother of the minor, reported to the police in Logan, Utah, that she was unable to contact her son after an alleged camping trip to Canada. The woman alerted authorities several times between April 3 and 5, after the child was not returned on the agreed date for the custody exchange.
Investigations revealed that the group never reached their intended destination. Instead, they crossed into Canada on March 29, flew from Vancouver to Mexico City, and subsequently traveled to Havana on April 1 using U.S. passports, according to local police.
On April 13, a state court granted Boden exclusive custody of the minor and ordered his immediate return. Days later, Cuban authorities located the couple on the island and cooperated with the FBI for their arrest and subsequent deportation to the United States.
According to the federal prosecutor's office, the minor —who was born male but identifies as female— expressed this identity during interviews with authorities, a concern that, according to family members, stemmed from a possible influence from Rose Inessa-Ethington. The family was also worried that the child might undergo a gender transition procedure before puberty, as reported by U.S. media.
The case has become more complex due to the family relationship: prior to the events, custody of the minor was shared between his biological mother and Rose Inessa-Ethington, who is his biological father.
"The aim in every case of parental kidnapping is to ensure the child's safety and their reunification with their family," stated Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the FBI in Salt Lake City, as quoted in an official statement.
In addition to the federal charges, local authorities in Utah have requested additional arrest warrants for interference with child custody, which could broaden the legal consequences for the couple.
The minor has already been returned to her mother in Utah, while the legal proceedings against the accused continue in the United States.
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