A Boeing 757 belonging to the U.S. Department of Justice made an unusual landing at Havana's José Martí International Airport on Monday. The FBI embarked on a rare mission to recover a 10-year-old American child, who court documents reveal was allegedly taken to Cuba by their transgender mother and her partner. The alleged intent was to subject the child to gender transition surgery before puberty.
The accused, Rose Inessa-Ethington, 42, and her partner Blue Inessa-Ethington, 32, both from Cache County, Utah, were apprehended on Monday with the cooperation of Cuban authorities. They face federal charges of international child abduction.
According to an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Jennifer Waterfield in a Utah federal court, the two women orchestrated an intricate international escape plan involving $10,000 in cash.
On March 28, they set out under the guise of a camping trip to Calgary, Alberta. They crossed into Canada from Washington State on March 29, flew from British Columbia to Mexico City, traveled to Mérida, and finally arrived in Havana on April 1 using their U.S. passports.
The child was supposed to be returned to their biological mother, referred to only as "LB" in the documents, on April 3. This handover never occurred.
During a search of the accused's residence, investigators uncovered task lists outlining plans to empty bank accounts, learn Spanish, and acquire tourist visas. They also found notes from a Washington, D.C. therapist related to "gender-affirming healthcare for children" and a receipt for a $10,000 payment to the therapist.
On April 13, a Utah state court mandated the immediate return of the child and granted exclusive custody to the biological mother. Last Thursday, Cuban officials located the group on the island and collaborated with the FBI to apprehend the two women on Monday.
The child was safely returned to their biological mother in Utah on Tuesday, according to the mother's attorney, Tess Davis. This operation unfolds amid the Trump administration's policies against surgical and chemical alterations in minors.
Experts in parental abduction cases described the government's use of an aircraft for such a mission as unprecedented. "This is remarkable, incredibly unusual. I've never heard of anything like this happening," they remarked.
Key Questions About the Controversial Custody Case
Why was the FBI involved in this custody case?
The FBI got involved due to the international aspect of the child abduction, as the child was taken across multiple borders, ultimately ending up in Cuba.
How did Cuban authorities assist in the operation?
Cuban authorities cooperated by locating the group on the island and aiding the FBI in the capture of the two women involved in the abduction.
What charges are the accused facing?
The accused are facing federal charges of international child abduction.