Utah Mother Elleshia Seymour’s International Abduction Amid “End Times” Fears
Utah Mother Abducts Her Children and Flees to Europe Amid “End Times” Fears
Utah Mother’s International Abduction: Four Children Missing in Europe Amid “End Times” Fears
Case Status: Active Investigation | Last Updated: January 1, 2026
In a case that has captured international attention, four American children remain missing after their mother allegedly abducted them to Europe, driven by apocalyptic fears and a belief that the “end times” were imminent. The November 30, 2025 disappearance has sparked a complex international manhunt spanning multiple countries and involving federal agencies on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Disappearance
Elleshia Anne Seymour, a 35-year-old Utah mother, was captured on surveillance footage boarding a one-way Delta Airlines flight from Salt Lake City International Airport to Croatia, with stops in Amsterdam. Accompanying her were her four children, ranging in age from 3 to 11 years old. The flight marked the beginning of what authorities now believe was a carefully planned international abduction.
The alarm wasn’t raised until December 2, when Seymour failed to appear at work and stopped responding to messages. A welfare check at her home revealed she had vanished, leaving behind crucial evidence that would later paint a disturbing picture of premeditation.
The Children
The four missing children have been identified as:
Landon Hal Seymour - Age 11 (turned 11 on December 13, while missing)
Levi Parker Seymour - Age 8
Hazel Rae Seymour - Age 7
Jacob Kurt Brady - Age 3
The three oldest children share the Seymour surname with their father, Kendall Seymour, while the youngest, Jacob, is from a different father. All four children were under partial custody arrangements with their respective fathers when they were taken.
The Evidence Left Behind
What investigators discovered at Seymour’s home revealed a troubling level of planning. A handwritten note contained what Kendall Seymour described as “a delusional message from God,” promising that she would be in Italy by Christmas. Perhaps more disturbing was the discovery of a detailed to-do list that included instructions to “shred paperwork, destroy identifying photos, throw away phone, purchase pre-paid phone.”
The evidence suggests Seymour may have forged passport documents for the children, allowing them to board the international flight despite custody restrictions. This level of preparation has led investigators to believe the abduction was not a spontaneous decision but rather a calculated plan executed over time.
The Voicemail That Changed Everything
On December 2, the same day the welfare check was conducted, Seymour left a voicemail with one of the fathers revealing her location and intentions. In the message, she stated she was in France and planned to secure permanent residence there because the “end times” were near. This apocalyptic justification has become a central element of the investigation, raising questions about her mental state and the safety of the children.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
The Utah Department of Public Safety issued an endangered and missing advisory for the children on December 10, formally listing Elleshia Seymour as the abductor. She has since been charged with four counts of custodial interference, classified as third-degree felonies under Utah law.
A temporary emergency protective order and no-bail arrest warrant have been issued for Seymour. However, the international nature of the case has complicated legal proceedings significantly.
The International Dimension
The FBI has taken the lead on the investigation, working in coordination with local Utah authorities. Kendall Seymour has been pushing for the state warrant to be elevated to a federal level, which would enable INTERPOL to issue an international arrest warrant for his ex-wife.
The case has highlighted the complex challenges of international child abduction cases, particularly when children are taken across multiple jurisdictions. Croatia, where the flight was initially bound, France where Seymour claimed to be, and Italy where she indicated she would be by Christmas, all represent potential locations where the children might be found.
The Father’s Fight
Kendall Seymour has launched a public campaign to bring his children home, creating a GoFundMe page to raise funds for travel expenses and legal costs. His emotional plea describes the situation bluntly: “To put it bluntly, my kids have been abducted overseas by their mother.”
The fundraising effort aims to ensure that when the children are found, their father can travel immediately to bring them home, minimizing the trauma of their experience. Any excess funds are pledged toward therapy for the children to help them process what their father describes as a “traumatic experience.”
The Psychological Aspect
The case has raised significant concerns about Seymour’s mental state and the potential danger to the children. Her belief in impending “end times” and the elaborate planning involved in the abduction have led experts to question whether she may be experiencing some form of psychological crisis.
Family law attorney Marco Brown has suggested that while Seymour faces serious felony charges, the court may consider mental health factors in determining her ultimate legal consequences. “Assuming this is the first time this has happened and [if] she has some mental health problems, then she is likely not looking at any jail time at all,” Brown noted, though he emphasized that the priority remains securing the children’s safe return.
Current Investigation Status
As of January 2026, Elleshia Seymour and the four children remain missing somewhere in Europe. The FBI continues to work with international partners to track their movements, following leads across multiple countries. The surveillance footage from Salt Lake City International Airport represents the last confirmed sighting of the family.
Investigators are working under the assumption that Seymour may have used her time in Europe to establish new identities or find safe harbor with individuals who share her apocalyptic beliefs. The mention of seeking “permanent residence” in her voicemail suggests she may have had contact with communities or organizations that could assist in hiding from authorities.
The Broader Implications
This case has reignited discussions about international custody disputes and the challenges faced when children are taken across borders. It has also highlighted the potential dangers of apocalyptic belief systems when combined with parental abduction, raising questions about how mental health evaluations are conducted in custody proceedings.
The speed with which Seymour was able to organize international travel with four children, including potential document forgery, has prompted calls for enhanced security measures at airports and better coordination between airlines and law enforcement agencies in custody dispute cases.
What Comes Next
The search for Elleshia Seymour and her four children continues across Europe, with authorities following every lead and tip. For Kendall Seymour and the other affected parent, each day brings new challenges as they wait for news of their children’s whereabouts.
The case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly domestic disputes can escalate into international incidents, and how parental fears—whether grounded in reality or not—can drive individuals to take desperate measures that put children at risk.
Anyone with information about Elleshia Anne Seymour or the four missing children is urged to contact the FBI or local authorities. The children’s safety remains the paramount concern as this international search continues into 2026.
If you have any information about this case, please contact the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office at (801) 579-1400 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. All information will be kept confidential.