All articles tagged with #child abduction
Denys Kostev, a Ukrainian orphan, was forcibly transferred to a Russian-occupied camp in Crimea, where he was coerced into filming pro-Kremlin propaganda to survive. He eventually escaped to Germany and returned to Ukraine to train as a drone pilot. International efforts to repatriate abducted children continue, with Norway funding search operations and a Toronto conference discussing rehabilitation.
Dancing with the Stars pro Gleb Savchenko seeks emergency custody of Olivia (15) and Zlata (8), accusing ex Elena Samodanova of abducting and permanently relocating them to Hong Kong without his consent; he requests temporary sole legal and physical custody and a lawyer for Olivia, and has filed a Hague treaty petition for Zlata. Samodanova opposes changes to custody and the girls’ schooling in California, and mediation is set for Aug. 5 with a hearing on Aug. 18.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CBS News he has evidence that Russia is abducting Ukrainian children and training them to fight Ukrainians, a claim that could amount to war crimes per the International Criminal Court; he noted Russia has long treated children as combatants and argued civilians cannot be exchanged for soldiers. The ICC issued a warrant for Vladimir Putin over a program of child deportation. Zelenskyy cited a Yale-led finding that Gazprom and Rosneft helped fund reeducation of thousands of Ukrainian children and said Ukraine has documented at least 20,000 abducted children, while urging Congress to consider tighter sanctions on Russia, including oil-related measures.
The EU imposed asset freezes and travel bans on 16 Russian officials and seven entities for the systematic, unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children, joining a broader package that now targets over 130 people and entities. Kyiv says tens of thousands of children have been abducted, with estimates ranging from about 20,000 verified to potentially much higher, and the EU is coordinating with international partners to secure return and accountability.
A 28-year-old man, Joseph Andrew Bragg, was arrested in Albert Lea, MN, in connection with the Zimmerman AMBER Alert after investigators tracked a missing 7-year-old girl to a vehicle on I-35; the child was recovered, taken to a hospital for evaluation, and later reunited with her family. The relationship between Bragg and the child remains unclear, and authorities stressed safety precautions for children during pickups.
Russian authorities have been accused of unlawfully transferring over 19,000 Ukrainian children since 2022, with social media alleging the existence of an online 'marketplace' listing kidnapped Ukrainian children for adoption, hosted on a database linked to the Russian-controlled Luhansk People's Republic. While the database is not new and has been used for years, Ukrainian officials and human rights groups are working to identify and recover the children, amid international condemnation and legal actions against Russia for war crimes related to child abduction.
A 9-year-old girl, Melina Frattolin, was abducted in Lake George, NY, prompting an AMBER Alert; she was last seen in a white van and is believed to be in imminent danger. Authorities are seeking information to locate her.
A 9-year-old girl, Melina Frattolin, was abducted in Lake George, NY, prompting an AMBER Alert; she was last seen in a white van and is believed to be in imminent danger. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Warren County Sheriff's Office.
New York State Police have issued an AMBER Alert for 9-year-old Melina Frattolin, last seen in Lake George in a white van, and believe she is in imminent danger. Authorities are seeking information from the public to locate her.
A South African mother and two accomplices received life sentences for trafficking her 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who remains missing after being sold to a traditional healer; the case drew national attention and highlighted severe penalties for such crimes.
A South African woman, Kelly Smith, along with her accomplices, was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who remains missing. The case garnered significant public attention, with testimonies revealing disturbing details about the child's disappearance and alleged sale for body parts. The court emphasized the lack of remorse from the accused, and police continue searching for Joshlin.
A vehicle was stolen from Chicopee, MA with a child inside, and both were found in Windsor, CT. The child, Liam David Pagan, was found safe at a hotel, but the suspect is still at large. The suspect is described as a white male, aged 50-60, and was last seen wearing black pants and black Crocs. The vehicle, a red Toyota Camry with Massachusetts license plate "3SCX29," was last seen heading towards I-91 south through Longmeadow in the direction of Enfield, CT.
More than 280 students, boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 15, were abducted by armed men from elementary and secondary schools in Nigeria's northern Kaduna state, marking the latest in a series of mass kidnappings in the country. Regional security expert David Otto criticized the government's inability to protect society from terrorist groups, emphasizing the vulnerability of women and children in these attacks. The recent abductions have highlighted the government's lack of control over the country's security, with concerns raised about the safety of children at schools and the living conditions of displaced people in camps.
A Rutherford County man has been arrested in connection to the case of a missing seven-year-old girl, Iris Crum, who was found safe in Texas after a dayslong search. The girl was believed to be in the company of her non-custodial mother, Khaila Czereda, and her husband, Ethan Czereda, was charged with felony aggravated kidnapping, accessory after the fact, and false report/information to officers. Khaila Czereda was taken into custody on charges of felony child abduction and custodial interference. Authorities expressed gratitude to law enforcement and the public for their assistance in locating Iris.
The Schenectady Police Department has issued a New York State AMBER Alert for the abduction of 10-month-old Halo Branton, a Hispanic female, near Campbell Avenue and 12th Street in Schenectady. She was last seen wearing white sweatpants with brown and tan flowers, a light pink shirt with a butterfly and writing, and white socks. Authorities believe she is in imminent danger and urge anyone with information to contact the Schenectady Police Department at (866) NYS-AMBER or dial 911.