A couple allegedly kidnapped a 10-year-old and traveled to Cuba for what family members say was an effort to have the child undergo gender affirming surgery
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NEED TO KNOW
- A Utah couple was charged with international parental kidnapping after allegedly taking a 10-year-old child to Cuba
- The child, a biological male who identifies as female, was allegedly taken for gender affirming surgery before puberty
- Cuban authorities located the group and returned the child “safely” to the biological mother in the U.S.
A couple from Utah allegedly kidnapped a 10-year-old child and traveled to Cuba for what family members believe was an effort to have the child undergo gender affirming surgery.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah announced in a press release on Tuesday, April 21, that the child's biological father, a transgender woman named Rose Inessa-Ethington, 42, and their partner, Blue Inessa-Ethington, 32, are now in federal custody and charged with International Parental Kidnapping.
They have also been charged with Aiding and Abetting, per online records reviewed by PEOPLE.
According to a complaint reviewed by PEOPLE, the child at the center of the case is a 10-year-old biological male who identifies as female.
"Concerns exist that [the child] was transported to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery prior to puberty," the complaint claims, further alleging that the child had been manipulated by Rose.
Gender reaffirming surgery is not legal for children in Cuba, per the Associated Press.
On March 28, the child was believed to be traveling by car with Rose and Blue, along with Blue's 3-year-old child, to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The child's biological mother, who is only identified as LB in the complaint, claims she got a call on March 28 in which the child told her that they had arrived in Canada.
The group, however, allegedly never checked into their hotel or the campground they were supposed to have stayed at.
Rose and Blue allegedly turned off their phones and were not heard from in the days that followed, in violation of a court-ordered custody agreement.
According to the complaint, on March 29, the group crossed the U.S.-Canada border on foot and took a flight from Canada to Mexico.
On April 1, the complaint alleges that the group took a flight from Mérida, Mexico, to Havana, Cuba.
A search of Rose and Blue's residence revealed numerous "to-do" lists that allegedly included "learn Spanish" and "empty USU bank."
Recovered notes allegedly also included a reminder to send a therapist $10,000 (which Blue had allegedly withdrawn on March 26) and instructions on gender affirming medical care for children.
While Rose and Blue had both worked for the same software company, Rose had quit her job, and Blue was expected to return to work on April 1, but did not.
The child was supposed to be returned to LB on April 3, per the court-ordered custody agreement, but was not.
On April 13, a Utah State Court ordered the child to be returned to LB and granted LB exclusive custody.
According to the press release, Cuban law enforcement located the group in Cuba on April 16, and the child was returned "safely" to LB.
Rose and Blue, who were deported from Cuba, appeared in court for an arraignment in Richmond, Virginia, on April 21, according to online records reviewed by PEOPLE.
They are expected to be transferred to Utah, where prosecution will continue.
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PEOPLE has reached out to federal public defenders who represented Rose and Blue in Virginia. Online records do not show that they been assigned public defenders in Utah.
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