Utah Children Trapped in Croatian Orphanage Following Alleged Apocalypse Abduction
Four young siblings from Utah have been left stranded in a state-run orphanage in Croatia after their mother allegedly abducted them overseas due to fears of an impending apocalypse. The children, aged between three and ten years old, are now at the centre of a complex international legal battle as their father desperately works to secure their return to the United States.
Mother's Arrest Leaves Children in Legal Limbo
Ellishia Anne Seymour, a 35-year-old mother, was arrested in Croatia after allegedly taking her four children—Landon (10), Levi (8), Hazel (7), and Jacob (3)—to Europe in December 2025. Reports indicate she became obsessed with the belief that an apocalyptic event was imminent, specifically fearing that Salt Lake City would be destroyed. This conviction allegedly prompted her to flee with the children without any plans for return.
Following her arrest, the children were placed into a Croatian orphanage, creating a distressing situation of legal uncertainty. Their father, Kendall Seymour, is now in Croatia attempting to navigate a foreign legal system to reclaim custody of his children.
Father's Frustrating Legal Battle
In updates posted to a GoFundMe page, Kendall Seymour has detailed the arduous and costly process required to secure his children's release. "We are in the country, trying to get the kids out of the custody of the local government," he wrote. The necessary steps include hiring Croatian lawyers specialising in international child abduction cases, preparing and submitting applications under the Hague Convention, employing court-approved translators, and extending their stay in Croatia for an indefinite period.
Kendall expressed profound frustration, noting that while his ex-wife allegedly managed to take the children abroad with relative ease, the process to bring them home has been immensely difficult. "The frustrating part is… she got them there with no problem, but it’s been horrible trying to get them out of Croatia back home," he stated.
Discovery of Mother's Fears and International Manhunt
The family only became aware of Ellishia Seymour's extreme beliefs in the weeks leading up to the abduction. Kendall Seymour told local media that he had seen his children just days before their departure and was completely unaware of his ex-wife's plans. "I didn't know about any of these ideas of hers until a couple of weeks ago when someone found her TikTok account," he explained. "She thinks Salt Lake is going to be destroyed and she is trying to get the kids to safety."
An international search was launched for the missing children. They were eventually located staying with another woman and her 13-year-old son in Croatia. The teenage boy reportedly discovered the missing persons advisory online and informed his mother, who then convinced Ellishia Seymour to turn herself in to authorities. Both women were taken into custody, and all five children—the four Seymour siblings and the 13-year-old boy—were placed in the orphanage.
Family's Emotional Ordeal and Complexities
The Seymour family has described the entire experience as devastating. Kendall's father, also named Kendall, said the situation had forever altered his view of his grandchildren's mother, whom he described as having become a "religious zealot". He revealed the initial terror of not knowing if the children were safe. "We had no idea what living condition they were in. We had no clue... Couldn’t tell you how many hours of sleep I lost worrying about them," he said.
The legal complications are compounded by the unfamiliarity of the Croatian authorities with such a case. "Part of the problem is nobody in Croatia, at least in the government, has had this happen before to them, so they don’t know what to do," the grandfather explained. "Nobody in the orphanage knows what to do as far as releasing the kids." He added that despite Kendall having birth certificates and custody documentation, it was not sufficient for immediate release, requiring a judge's approval.
Kendall's sister, McKenzie Diaz, shared the bittersweet reality of their current visits. "We’re allowed to be with them for two hours each day, which is wonderful based off of not knowing where they were before, but not what we’re going for," she said. "So, it’s so close to reunification, but having to say goodbye every single day after only such a short amount of time is really difficult."
The case also involves the 13-year-old American boy found with the Seymour children. Kendall Seymour noted in his fundraiser that returning this child to the US presents an "even more difficult" situation than that of his own children, highlighting the broader legal and humanitarian challenges at play.
The family remains hopeful but faces a protracted and uncertain path to finally bringing all the children home, as they continue to grapple with the emotional and financial toll of this international custody crisis.
