Transgender Man Allegedly Abducts Son to Cuba
A Utah man, identifying as transgender, reportedly abducted his child during a custody dispute and escaped to Cuba, potentially in search of “prepubertal gender reassignment surgery.” This information was detailed in a statement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
Eli Essington, 42, and Carly Ann Crosby, 32, are accused of taking their 10-year-old son first to Canada, then Mexico, before arriving in Cuba on April 1.
“We thank law enforcement for working quickly to return the child to his biological mother,” stated a representative.
The child was meant to return to his biological mother after a camping trip, but he never came back. Subsequently, the mother obtained a court order granting her exclusive custody of the boy, reinstating her legal rights.
The boy’s family indicated that Essington and Crosby were aware of his transgender identity, and there are claims that a ‘non-binary’ partner may be influencing him regarding transitioning surgery in Cuba.
Born male, the boy identifies as female, as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office release.
Cuban authorities located the pair along with the child on April 16.
Following their apprehension, Essington and Crosby were expelled from Cuba and returned to the U.S. The FBI assisted in this process, leading to their charges in federal court for international parental kidnapping.
With the child now back in the custody of his biological mother, Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoake expressed gratitude towards law enforcement for their swift actions.
Essington had previously run a well-known political blog concerning Utah, currently known as Rose Inessa Essington, while Crosby also goes by Blue Inessa Essington.
The Logan Police Department initially focused on the custody battle itself and was unaware of potential issues surrounding the transgender surgery, especially since such procedures for minors are illicit in Cuba.
“Our priority in any parental kidnapping case is the child’s safety and well-being,” stated Robert Boles, Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake City FBI. “This case demonstrates our commitment to locating victims, facilitating reunification, and ensuring accountability.”
