A Utah woman has been arrested in Croatia for allegedly taking her four young children overseas in defiance of a custody order, authorities said Tuesday. Elleshia Seymour, 35, was charged in Salt Lake County in December with four counts of custodial interference for removing the children from the US despite lacking legal custody.
Croatia's foreign ministry confirmed she was arrested earlier this month and is being held on suspicion of violating children's rights. The children have been placed in foster care in Croatia while their father, Kendall Seymour, works to bring them back to the United States. He told the Associated Press he is currently in the country visiting the children while completing legal paperwork.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sam Gill said his office is coordinating with federal authorities to explore extradition options. Elleshia Seymour was not available for comment while in custody, and Utah court records do not list an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
Elleshia Seymour posted videos on TikTok last year describing apocalyptic dreams and urging people to prepare, according to her ex-husband, who identified her in videos viewed by the AP. Court documents said a former boyfriend told police she had recently discussed obtaining passports and leaving the country due to concerns about biblical events and the 'end of times'.
Police went to Seymour's home on December 2 after friends and co-workers reported being unable to reach her. They found the apartment unlocked with nobody home, along with a notebook listing plans to shred documents, discard phones and take passports. Police later found her car at Salt Lake City International Airport and video showed the family boarding a one-way flight to Europe on November 29.
One of the children reportedly tipped off a son of the hosting family, leading to Seymour's arrest on January 16. Kendall Seymour said by phone from Croatia: 'One of my kids told him, Hey, search my name, Google my name, you’ll find it.' The host family either turned her in or convinced her to do so, he said.
