FBI Rescues 10-Year-Old Boy from International Abduction
The FBI successfully rescued a 10-year-old boy who was taken to Cuba by his biological father and his partner without notifying the child’s mother.
Known as Eli Essington, the boy was reportedly identified as a “woman’s child” and was supposed to go on a camping trip to Canada with his biological father, Rose Inessa Essington. This was detailed in a press release from the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Essington, along with her partner Blue Inessa Essington (also referred to as Carly Ann Crosby), had initially planned to drive to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for a camping trip that was supposed to take place between March 29 and April 2, 2026. However, they never arrived at their planned destination.
Instead, the group allegedly crossed the U.S.-Canada border on March 29 and then took a flight from Vancouver, Canada, to Mexico City, Mexico. Subsequently, on April 1, they boarded another flight from Merida, Mexico, to Havana, Cuba, according to court documents.
On March 28, 2026, the boy had called his mother to inform her he had arrived in Canada. Periods of silence followed, raising concerns. The biological mother shares custody and was expecting her son to return home after the trip, as per their custody agreement, but he was not returned as planned.
After crossing into Canada, the group was tracked to Mexico and then Cuba, where significant worries arose regarding the child’s welfare. Reports suggested that the child might be undergoing gender reassignment surgery before reaching puberty, largely influenced by Rose. A Utah court eventually mandated the boy’s immediate return to his mother and awarded her exclusive custody.
As of April 16, 2026, the group was identified by Cuban authorities, while Rose and Blue now face federal charges related to international parental abduction.
In a court filing, the FBI described a complex kidnapping involving a hefty amount of cash, as reported by The New York Times.
Local law enforcement in Utah had teamed up with the FBI, where Special Agent Jennifer Waterfield discovered evidence suggesting a premeditated plan.
Authorities retrieved significant evidence from a home search, which included a withdrawn amount of $10,000 in cash and a checklist outlining plans for learning Spanish, obtaining a tourist visa, and emptying a bank account.
Investigators also found documents related to “gender-affirming child care” and a note mentioning a payment to a therapist.
“In any parental kidnapping case, our utmost priority is the safety and well-being of the child,” noted Robert Boles, Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City FBI Division.
