Child Returned to U.S. from Cuba in Kidnapping Case

A 10-year-old child from Utah has been returned to the United States from Cuba on a U.S. Department of Justice plane. The child’s parent, Rose Inessa-Ethington, and her partner, Blue Inessa-Ethington, were arrested and charged with international parental kidnapping. The child was subsequently returned to the biological mother in Utah.

The couple traveled with the child to Canada in late March, then to Mexico, and then to Cuba on April 1.

Background of the Case

The child's biological mother filed a missing-person report on April 3 after the child was not returned as scheduled. A Utah state judge ordered the child's return on April 13, and a federal arrest warrant was issued on April 16.

Cuban law enforcement located the group, and they were deported to the U.S. on Monday. The defendants were arraigned in federal court in Richmond, Virginia, and will be returned to Utah to face charges.

Investigation Details

According to a criminal complaint, a family member expressed concern that Rose Inessa-Ethington went to Havana to get the child gender transition surgery. The charges do not state if surgery was planned or how it would be obtained, as such surgery is not legal for children in Cuba.

The FBI stated that Blue Inessa-Ethington withdrew $10,000 before leaving and that agents found a note at their home with instructions from a therapist regarding gender-affirming medical care for children and sending money.

A Logan police spokesperson stated the concern about surgery was raised by one family member and that there was "no actual physical evidence."

Additional Context

The custody dispute between the parents is not new. An online fundraiser was created five years ago by Blue Inessa-Ethington titled "Help a Trans Mother Keep Custody of Her Child."

According to an FBI affidavit, family members said the child was assigned male at birth but identifies as a girl, which they believed was due to "manipulation" by Rose Inessa-Ethington.

In Cuba, gender-affirming surgeries are banned for minors and are only performed for adults through the public health system under strict supervision after a lengthy review process.

The Trump administration moved in December to cut off gender-affirming care for minors, prompting lawsuits from several states.