A Utah mother of four is at the center of an international manhunt after police say she abducted her children and fled the country — allegedly driven by fears that the “end times” were approaching.
Elleshia Anne Seymour, 35, has been charged with four counts of custodial interference and removing a child from the state after authorities say she took her children overseas without consent and in violation of a court-ordered custody agreement, according to ABC4 Utah.
Police became concerned on Dec. 2 when officers with the West Jordan Police Department were sent to Seymour’s home for a welfare check. The house was unlocked, empty, and showed signs it had been abruptly abandoned.
Investigators later learned Seymour had not responded to phone calls from a coworker or a friend since Nov. 29 — the same day authorities believe she disappeared with the children.
An endangered and missing advisory was issued on Dec. 10 by the Utah Department of Public Safety for the four children, who range in age from 3 to 11. They were identified as Landon Seymour, 11; Levi Parker Seymour, 8; Hazel Raye Seymour, 7; and Jacob Kurt Brady, 3.
Officials said it remains unclear what the children were last wearing or exactly where they were last seen. Seymour is described as 5-foot-3, approximately 121 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
During a search of the home, investigators reportedly found a notebook outlining plans to discard phones and documents and gather passports. Police say Seymour also left a voicemail for one of the children’s fathers claiming she was already in France with the kids.
According to court documents, Seymour — who shares custody with two fathers — allegedly told investigators she took the children because she feared “end times” were imminent and believed she needed to get them to safety. Authorities say neither father had any knowledge of her plans.
Surveillance footage later confirmed Seymour boarded a one-way international flight from Salt Lake City International Airport on Nov. 29 with all four children. The flight reportedly routed through Amsterdam before landing in Croatia. Her vehicle was later found abandoned in an airport parking lot.
One of the fathers, Kendall Seymour, has since launched a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $12,000 to help recover the children. He said he didn’t realize they were missing until days after they were taken.
“If we can be there to get them as soon as possible after mom is arrested, they will feel safer and suffer less trauma,” he wrote, adding that additional funds may be used for therapy once the children are returned.
Kendall later told KSL-TV he had no idea his ex-wife held extreme beliefs until someone pointed him to her social media accounts.
“She believes Salt Lake will be destroyed and she’s trying to get the kids to safety,” he said. “There were no signs of this when we were married or even after our divorce.”
Authorities confirmed the Federal Bureau of Investigation is now assisting local police in the search, as the case has escalated into an international child abduction investigation.
Officials say the mother appears to have no intention of returning to the United States.
So Europe is safer than Utah? Good luck with that.
This woman needs to read the Bible and get discernment.