Utah couple charged with kidnapping, taking 10-year-old to Cuba

SALT LAKE CITY — A Cache County couple is now in federal custody after being accused of taking a child to Cuba for potential gender reassignment surgery.

Rose Inessa-Ethington, also known as Eri Ethington, 42, and Blue Inessa-Ethington, also known as Carly Ann Crosby, 32, were deported from Cuba to the U.S. on Monday by the FBI. Once they landed, they were taken into federal custody based on a federal criminal complaint charging them with international parental kidnapping.

The two were supposed to be traveling by car on March 28 to Calgary, Canada, for a planned camping trip with a 10-year-old child who they have shared custody of with the child's biological mother. The child was traveling with her biological father, Rose Inessa-Ethington, Rose's partner Blue Inessa-Ethington and Blue Inessa-Ethington's 3-year-old child.

"But the group never arrived at their hotel in Calgary or the campground they planned to stay at from March 29 – April 2," a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office of Utah said.

The child's biological mother had not heard from the group since March 28 when the 10-year-old told her they had arrived in Canada, according to the federal complaint. The child was supposed to be returned to the mother on April 3, but that did not occur.

The group crossed the U.S.-Canada border and took a flight from Vancouver to Mexico on March 29, then another flight on April 1 from Mexico to Cuba, court documents state.

The family alleged significant concerns for the child's well-being, saying the child was born male but identifies as female, and believes it is due to manipulation from Rose Inessa-Ethington, according to court documents.

"Concerns existed that the child was transported to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery prior to puberty," the U.S. Attorney's Office of Utah said.

During a search of the Inessa-Ethington residence, investigators located notes with instructions from a mental health therapist on gender-related medical care for children, court documents said.

On April 13, a Utah state court order demanded the 10-year-old be returned to her mother and granted the mother exclusive custody, federal prosecutors said. The group was located in Cuba on April 16.

"We are grateful to law enforcement for working swiftly to return the child to the biological mother," said first assistant U.S. attorney Melissa Holyoak.

The Inessa-Ethingtons made their first federal court appearance in Richmond, Virginia, but will be transported to Utah for the remainder of court proceedings. Both have been charged in Utah's 1st District Court with custodial interference, a third-degree felony.

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