Utah Dad Reunited With 4 Kids After Mom's Abduction

Kendall Seymour's children were found in a Croatian orphanage after their mother took them abroad.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 10:55am

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A father in Utah has been reunited with his three kids and their half-brother after their mother abducted the children, took them abroad, and left them at a Croatian orphanage. Kendall Seymour first reported his kids missing in November 2025 after his ex-wife, Elleshia Seymour, was seen boarding a plane with the four children. The kids were eventually located at the orphanage, and Kendall was able to bring them back to the U.S. in late January 2026.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges parents can face when a former spouse abducts their children and takes them across international borders. It also underscores the importance of international cooperation and legal frameworks like the Hague Convention to help reunite families in these situations.

The details

Kendall Seymour revealed that his ex-wife, Elleshia Seymour, abducted their three children and Elleshia's fourth child in November 2025. Elleshia fled the U.S. with the kids and eventually left them at a Croatian orphanage. Kendall launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund his efforts to locate and retrieve the children, which involved hiring Croatian lawyers, submitting Hague Convention applications, and securing translators. After several weeks, Kendall was able to regain custody of the four kids and bring them back to Utah.

  • On November 30, 2025, Elleshia Seymour was seen boarding a plane with the four children.
  • On January 25, 2026, Kendall Seymour shared that the kids were located in a Croatian orphanage.
  • On January 29, 2026, Kendall announced he had retrieved all four children and was bringing them back to Utah.
  • On February 1, 2026, Kendall confirmed he, his three kids, and Elleshia's fourth child were on their way home.

The players

Kendall Seymour

A father in Utah who reunited with his three kids and their half-brother after his ex-wife abducted them and left them in a Croatian orphanage.

Elleshia Seymour

Kendall's ex-wife who abducted the four children in November 2025 and took them to Croatia, eventually leaving them at an orphanage.

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What they’re saying

“After so much work from SO many people, the Social Services employees informed us that the police had finished their investigation, returned the children's passports, and gave us the go ahead to pick up the kids from the children's group home in the morning! We are all excited to get back to (mostly) normal life.”

— Kendall Seymour (GoFundMe)

“In no way, shape, or form could we have done this without all of you and our amazing network of family and friends. We don't even know where we would be (or where the kids would be) without you all.”

— Kendall Seymour (GoFundMe)

What’s next

Kendall Seymour and his family will continue to provide support and assistance to the fifth American child who was also found at the Croatian orphanage, as they work to help get that child into a stable living situation.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of international cooperation and legal frameworks like the Hague Convention to help reunite families when a parent abducts their children and takes them across borders. It also highlights the challenges and expenses parents can face in these situations, and the vital role of community support in achieving a positive outcome.