A US government plane made an unusual trip to Havana this week as part of a rare Federal Bureau of Investigation operation to recover a 10-year-old boy from Utah in an international parental kidnapping case. According to reporting by The New York Times and documents filed in federal court, agents believe the child was taken abroad by a transgender parent and their partner, allegedly with the intention of undergoing gender reassignment surgery.Authorities have charged Rose Inessa-Ethington, 42, and Blue Inessa-Ethington, 32, of Cache County, Utah, with international parental kidnapping and aiding and abetting. Court filings identify Rose as the child’s biological father, who transitioned to female after the child’s birth. Rose shared custody of the child with the biological mother, identified only as “LB” in the documents.The filing states that the child, described as a 10-year-old male at birth who identifies as female, was living between both parents before the incident.
How the FBI tracked a child’s journey from the US to Cuba
According to an affidavit filed by an FBI special agent in Utah federal court, the two men allegedly misled the child’s mother by claiming that they were taking the child on a camping trip to Calgary, Canada on March 28, 2026. Investigators say the group never reached their destination.Instead, authorities believe they crossed into Canada from Washington state, flew from British Columbia to Mexico City, traveled to Mérida and then flew to Cuba on April 1 using US passports. The child was to be returned to the mother on April 3, but this was not done in violation of the custody agreement.A search of the suspects’ residence turned up items that investigators say point to advance planning. These included approximately $10,000 in cash, handwritten “to-do” lists referencing tasks such as learning Spanish, emptying bank accounts, and arranging travel logistics, as well as notes related to gender-affirming medical care for the children.Federal agents said in court filings that there was no indication that the couple intended to return to the United States with the child.
Family members describe ongoing conflict
Family members told investigators that there was an ongoing disagreement over possible medical treatment for the child. Rose Inessa-Ethington’s brother, Steven Ethington, told The New York Times that his sister had strongly advocated for transition-related medical care for many years.Tess Davis, a lawyer representing the child’s biological mother, said the issue had been a point of contention during the parents’ divorce proceedings, adding that the mother feared she would never see the child again.
Rare federal response draws attention
Legal experts say the government’s response was highly unusual. While international parental abduction cases are often complex, the use of Justice Department aircraft to repatriate a child from another country is rarely seen.“This is extremely unusual,” said Jay Grob, president of a company that specializes in child recovery cases. He said such deployments are not common in custody disputes.The plane, a Boeing 757 operated by the US Justice Department, flew from Virginia straight to Cuba. Cuban authorities assisted in locating the individuals, who were arrested on 16 April. He was later flown back to the United States.On April 13, a Utah court granted exclusive custody to the biological mother and ordered the immediate return of the child. After coordination between US and Cuban authorities, the child was located and returned safely to the mother.Cuba formally joined the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction in 2018, although in practice cooperation between countries may vary. The case also comes amid broader political tensions and an ongoing US policy debate over gender-related care for minors.
The case is still ongoing
Both defendants remain in federal custody and face charges that could have significant legal consequences if proven. Officials stressed that the case remains an allegation at this stage. An FBI official said, “Our priority in every case of parental abduction is the safety and well-being of the child.” He said the operation reflects the coordination between agencies to ensure the safe return of the child.As the case progresses through the courts, it continues to draw attention to its legal, international, and political dimensions.