need to know
-
Four children allegedly kidnapped from Utah by their mother have been found in an orphanage in Croatia, according to family members
-
Landon Seymour, 11, Levi Parker Seymour, 8, Hazel Raye Seymour, 7, and Jacob Kurt Brady, 3, disappeared after a Thanksgiving visit with their mother, Elleshia Anne Seymour
-
Elesia, 35, was arrested in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, local authorities said
Four Utah children who went missing after spending Thanksgiving with their mother have been found at an orphanage in Croatia, and the mother has been arrested.
Elleshia Anne Seymour, 35, faces charges in Utah for allegedly kidnapping her four children and escaping on a one-way flight to Europe on November 29, 2025, People magazine previously reported.
Seymour’s ex-husband Kendall Seymour identified the children on GoFundMe as 11-year-old Landon Seymour, 8-year-old Levi Parker Seymour, 7-year-old Hazel Raye Seymour and 3-year-old Jacob Kurt Brady.
On Sunday, January 25, Kendall shared an update on the fundraiser, saying the children were “trapped” in a state-run orphanage. Kendall is the father of three of four children.
On Monday, January 26, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to the main local news agency DNEVNIK that Elesia was arrested in Dubrovnik, about 400 miles from the Croatian capital Zagreb.
Another local outlet, 24 Sata, also reported the arrest, citing a statement from the ministry, which did not mention the woman’s name.
According to media reports, Elesiya was arrested on suspicion of criminal violations of children’s rights.
The ministry and the U.S. Embassy in Croatia have been contacted for confirmation.
Goffin May
ABC4 Utah previously reported, citing court records, that on Dec. 2, the West Jordan Police Department arrived at Eleshia’s residence and found it unoccupied and unlocked, and after conducting a welfare check, the child abduction allegation came to light.
An ex-boyfriend previously told KSL Utah that Elesia, who shares custody of her child’s father, allegedly feared it was “the end of an era” and had concerns about “biblical events.”
“I didn’t really understand her doomsday beliefs until after all this happened,” ex-husband Kendall further told the outlet. “That didn’t happen during our marriage or after our divorce.”
Kendall claimed on GoFundMe that Eleshia “left a note with a false message from God, promising she would be in Italy before Christmas, and a to-do list that said ‘Shred paperwork, destroy ID photos, throw away phone, buy a prepaid phone.'”
Goffin May
It was unclear whether the children had been removed from the orphanage.
Despite Kendall’s online plea to return the children to the United States, the Croatian Institute of Social Work has called for a thorough review of the case, 24 Sata, DNEVNIK and Teleskop reported.
“Given the international elements of this case, the competent authorities of the United States of America must review all relevant facts and circumstances before making a decision to release the child to the father,” the institute said in a statement.
The institute has been contacted for comment.
Want the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
RELATED: Mom allegedly kidnapped 4 of her children and fled overseas because she feared ‘the end’ was coming: Police
In Utah, Elleshia faces four counts of supervisory interference, local authorities said, KSL and ABC4 Utah reported.
While the case was started by West Jordan police, it was later turned over to the FBI. The FBI and West Jordan police both declined to comment on the investigation.
Local officials further told KSL that the case has now been transferred to Croatian police. It’s unclear whether the FBI is still investigating.
Other entities, including the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Consulate in Croatia and the Utah Department of Public Safety, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Kendall is seeking additional donations on GoFundMe to help him pay for his travel expenses while he remains in Croatia to try to free the children.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Read the original article on People
